Washington Post columnist Richard Morin wrote last month that “Instead of rejoicing when our wives start making bigger contributions to the family income, we husbands tend to become more gloomy, suffer more headaches and generally feel more pressured and stressed,” citing a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family. “It may be that the persistence of breadwinning expectations for men in our culture contributes to personal pressure and stress when their wives increase the percentage that they are contributing to the total household income,” one of the authors is quoted as saying.
But how about this explanation: “Married women may draw attention to the increased size of their contribution as a means to obtain greater equity in decision-making and sharing of household duties with men. This may be unwelcome to some married men and therefore lower their psychological well-being.”
The shrinkspeak phrase “… and therefore lower their psychological well-being” might be more accurately stated “… and therefore pisses them off but they’re too chicken to admit it so they walk around with their tail between their legs.” Likewise, “Married women may draw attention…” might be more accurately stated “Married women may start getting bitchy and demanding…”
This phenomenon is not so surprising when you tie it to the traditional dance of the sexes that I wrote about earlier this month in the High-achieving women=scary? High-achieving men=sexy? piece.