Page 404 - Sociology and You

374
Unit 4 Social Institutions
Childless Marriages
In the past, married women without children were seen as failing to fulfill their “duty” as wives. In fact, in many religions, the in- ability to have children is still one of the few allowed rea- sons for divorcing a woman. Historically, married childless women were pitied and looked down upon, and single women rarely achieved respectability outside the role of
“spinster aunt.”
Why are some married women now choosing not to have children? Around 19 percent of American women who have ever been married do not have children in 2000, compared with about 15 percent in 1970 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000d). It is unclear if this upward trend will continue. Today, the reasons married women give for choosing not to have children are varied. Social stigmas against childless married women are disappear- ing. It is no longer automatically accepted that having children is the primary reason for marriage. Some women have elected to pursue personal or career goals instead. Other people, both men and women, have basic moral is-
sues about raising children in what they consider to be an immoral world. Sometimes, having children is put off so long that it becomes hard for cou- ples to make the adjustment to raising a family. Finally, it is important to remember that not all couples without children have chosen to be that way. Physical or psychological problems keep some couples from having children.
Are marriages happier with or without children? The answer to this question generally depends upon the couple’s decision about having chil- dren. Among childless couples who want children, marital happiness is gen- erally lower than for married couples with children. However, research shows that couples who by choice have no children appear to be happier and more satisfied with their marriages and lives than couples with children (Cox, 1999).
Dual-Employed Marriages
In families where both parents are working outside the home, special strains are put on the marriage. Women in these dual-employed marriages are apparently expected to handle most of the household and child-care re- sponsibilities in addition to their full-time jobs.
What are drawbacks to the dual-employed family? Because they must combine employment with child care and household tasks, married working women work about fifteen hours more a week than men. Sociologist Arlie Hochschild calls this home- and child-based work “the sec- ond shift.” Although men spend an average of four to six hours per week in household and child-care duties, women bear the larger burden.
In addition to this greater workload, women in dual-employed marriages must cope with role conflict. They are torn between the time requirements of
About one-fifth of couples today remain childless. In this an upward or downward trend?
dual-employed marriages
marriages in which both spouses work outside the home