Resources and decision making in households

• Jan Pahl and Carolyn Vogler identify 2 types of control over family income

  • the allowance system: men give their wives an allowance out of which they have to budget to meet the family's needs, with the man retaining any surplus
  • Pooling: Both partners have access to income and joint responsibility for expenditure
• Michelle Barret and Mary McIntosh

  • Men gain far more money from women's domestic labour than they give back in financial support
  • Financial support that is given is often unpredictable and comes with 'strings' attached
  • Men usually make the decisions about spending money on important items
• Irene Hardhill


  Found that the important decisions were made by the man alone or jointly and that his career took priority when deciding to move house for a new job.
• Jane Finch

  Observed that women's lives tend to be structured around their husband's careers
• feminists argument about inequalities in decision making


  The cultural definition of men as decision makers is deeply ingrained in men and women and instilled through gender role socialisation. Until this is challenged, it is likely to remain unequal.
• Stephen Edgell's study of professional couples

  • Very important decisions such as those involving finance or moving house were made solely by the husband or jointly, but he had final say
  • Important decisions such as children's education or a holiday location were made jointly and seldom the wife alone
  • Less important decisions such as home décor were usually made by the wife
• Laurie and Gershuny 


  Found that by 1995, 70% of couples said they had an equal say in decisions. They found that women who were high earning, well qualified professionals were more likely to have an equal say
• 'Personal life' perspective

  Meanings that money may have in relationships cannot be taken for granted. While some may see one person controlling the money as inequality, the couple might not see it this way
• Weeks et al


  Found that the typical pattern was pooling some money for household spending together with separate accounts for personal spending. Reflects a sense of 'co-dependence' where there is sharing and the partners retain control over some money and maintains a sense of independence
• Carol Smart

  Gay men and lesbians attached no importance to who controlled the money and were happy to give it to their partners. They didn't see the control of money as equality or inequality. She found that there was greater freedom in same-sex relationships and suggests it may be because they don't have the same 'historical, gendered, heterosexual baggage of cultural meanings around money' that see money as a source of power