How do you feel about women who make more money than their husbands?
By deemazing
@deemazing (395)
United States
August 3, 2008 8:34pm CST
There has been a long history of women being treated unfairly in the workplace. Over the years, women became more powerful. Now, there are a lot of women in the US that make more money than their husbands, and they absolutely deserve it. However, this has been down to cause a lot of domestic issues, sometimes to the point of divorce.
According to an article in Pink Magazine, a magazine for professional women, about a third of women in the US earn more money than their husbands. In 1987, it was 23% of women, and in 2003, soared to 32%.
I would like to know how everyone feels about women earning more than their husbands. Is it all fair equality, or should men always earn more just to keep things traditional? What makes you come to your conclusion?
Men - What would you do if your wife made more than you? How would you react and what would change in your life?
Women - What would you do if your husband constantly complained about you making more money, and eventually wanted a divorce because of it?
You can read the article at www.pinkmagazine.com/resources/enhance/she_earns_more_part1.html
12 people like this
30 responses
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
4 Aug 08
Dear friend,
If my wife is earning more than me that too in more justifiable way then I would whole hearted cooperation of myself for her. Moreover I would encourage her to expand her good dreams or wishes and make her all comfort for doing her job more successfully. I would never tend to discourage her. Moreover I would like make others also note as a husband I proud of my wife who is getting a better salary or earning.
@deemazing (395)
• United States
6 Aug 08
Good to know that there are still good men out there that wouldn't take it to heart!
1 person likes this
@yadav8797 (1211)
• India
27 Sep 08
hi friend,
in these days generation this may be true with many families and false too in some cases.its depend you that how much you are hard working to earn money for there family.these days girls are well educated than mans .so they ,get better jobs than man and they will earn much more than boys.by there interest in work.
its nice to see.
i like to response this type of discussion.
happy mylotting
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
4 Aug 08
I am a firm believer in equality so to me it doesn't matter who makes what, I think happiness in life is more to do with being with the one you love and money is not impotant, i think people contribute to a relationship in many ways and it is up to the two people involved in what way they do this..i say people should just be happy, life is way too short to worry about the fundamentals... ...
@deemazing (395)
• United States
6 Aug 08
I agree with you. Besides that, they end up sharing the income unless they have something worked out where they do not share the income, which kind of defeats the purpose of marriage in some ways, if you ask me.
1 person likes this
@mjmlagat (3170)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
If it happens that I earn more than my husband and he constantly complains about it (thankfully this has never been in our case :), but I would surely be disappointed. This is because I am working real hard to reach such income in my entire professional life just for all of us in the family and all he could do is complain about it?!
The least he could do is to say thank you and find even the simplest way to be appreciative in my efforts.
But you know, men just like women have different dispositions in life. I feel so unhappy and unfortunate for those wives who earn more than their husbands yet getting no appreciations from them; as a consequence, divorce instead.
Good luck to all of us and Happy posting!
The least he could do is to say thank you and find even the simplest way to be appreciative in my efforts.
But you know, men just like women have different dispositions in life. I feel so unhappy and unfortunate for those wives who earn more than their husbands yet getting no appreciations from them; as a consequence, divorce instead.
Good luck to all of us and Happy posting!4 people like this
@deemazing (395)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I could understand if men were upset about it because it might take away some of their "dignity" or "power" they have in the household, but it isn't like they need to go around town and tell everyone their wife makes more than them. Finances should be a secret. But for a husband to be so bitter that he complains about it all the time or puts a halt on your spending, I would have to leave him. I wouldn't let any man tell me that I'm not worth more than him if I'm doing a job that is more demanding and pays better. If I owned a top business, and he was a customer service representative, then of course I should make more money. Would you expect me to make $11 per hour? NO WAY! He would just have to get over it.
1 person likes this
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
4 Aug 08
If my husband divorces me because I make more money than him, then I should just kick him out! What kind of a reason is that? He must be out of his mind - I'm contributing more to the household income, and he's complaining? 
Seriously speaking, I think most men ask for a divorce, is because their self-esteem or egos are affected. The traditional belief that men are the bread-winners still hold fast in many countries, and it is an embarrassment to them, that their wives earn more! To be fair, some women add to the damage, by harping and grousing that their men are 'useless, bringing in less money, contributing less than me' and so on!
However, I feel that since a marriage is a partnership for life, it does not matter who earns more - it's a pooling and sharing of everything - joys, sorrows, money..so forth.
Seriously speaking, I think most men ask for a divorce, is because their self-esteem or egos are affected. The traditional belief that men are the bread-winners still hold fast in many countries, and it is an embarrassment to them, that their wives earn more! To be fair, some women add to the damage, by harping and grousing that their men are 'useless, bringing in less money, contributing less than me' and so on!
However, I feel that since a marriage is a partnership for life, it does not matter who earns more - it's a pooling and sharing of everything - joys, sorrows, money..so forth. 
@deemazing (395)
• United States
6 Aug 08
Especially to be so hurt over a thing of that sort to leave the person you love the most! They definitely do not like their ego hurt, but who really does? I think they consider themselves an embarrasment, but who would know unless they bragged about it?
2 people like this
@mjoan_ev (45)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
nowadays its a reality that more women have more opportunity in making money than men, sometime is causes family trouble between husband and wife.
there should me respect and mutual understanding for the couple in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. there should not be any competition on who's earning more and who is not coz both are working for the good of the family and that should be the ultimate goal. set aside the pride coz it will not help.
4 people like this
@deemazing (395)
• United States
6 Aug 08
Yes, keep the competition for the ball game or whatever sport you may partipate in!
1 person likes this
@magnet (2087)
• United States
5 Aug 08
I don't see anything wrong with the woman making more money than the man. If my husband were to start complaining about me making more money than him then I'll just let him think that I was making less, and stash the rest away in a secret place. If I ever feel threated that he would leave me over something that stupid, I would make sure that I look out for me. I don't have to worry about that issue, my husband told me that he does not care if I make more money because it's our money anyway.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
27 Sep 08
Good luck for them and their husbands! I would not have any difficulty if my wife earns more than me. I consider her earnings as mine and my earnings as hers. We share bills and other expenses. We have a common account. So if she is going to gain, I am going to gain at the end of the day.
@jossml (464)
• Puerto Rico
4 Aug 08
That's not a problem for me. My wife ones make more than me, now I make more. If she gets more money than me then I will celebrate with her. This can't be an issue in a great relationship. Is just the media wanting to causes big discrepancies between couples.
3 people like this
@deemazing (395)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Yes, and sometimes some men have too much pride to lose. While interviewing, my jobs I could land could make more than my boyfriend makes, and he isn't upset about it at all. He actually jokes that I could be his sugar mama, lol. I just feel sad for those who have hatred towards them because they make more.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I think it depends on the man. My best friend makes more than her hubby. And in some ways it has started to cause small difficulties. Like when she wants to buy an extra gift for her sons. I would hope that each role in marriage could grow. Also it would be nice if each respected the others role and contribution. Keeping things traditional doesn't give more men credit.
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I really don't see any problem with one making more money than the other. I don't think my husband would have a problem with me making a better salary. We would just continue to save our money together for the greater good of our household and child.
Now granted, I am a stay at home mother and my husband is starting a new job which will be pretty good money. If I were to go out tomorrow and make more than him it really wouldn't make too much of a never mind. Divorce? I really don't see why that should happen.
@deemazing (395)
• United States
6 Aug 08
Divorce shouldn't occur over something so silly, but I can see why someone would want to divorce their husband if he couldn't stop complaining about it and discouraging her from succeeding. If I was the man, it would encourage me to go after my dreams and earn more, but at the same time I can definitely see how that not becoming an accomplishment could cause jealousy and resentment. But the whole marriage thing is a joint venture, and both husband and wife should be looking towards the benefit of their household and children.
1 person likes this
@poona_m (336)
• India
5 Aug 08
I am a stay at home mom. I dont have any ambitions of working and earning money. Though my husband is always encouraging me to do something.
I am really happy for those girls who can earn more than their husbands. they can be suchj a big support to the husband. being able to suport financially is a great thing for any woman but being able to earn more than the husband means an added pressure on her with respect to how to manage that money. Even the husband may fins himself in an awkward situation where in his wife is financially more independent than him. I would rather be a housewife and not earn rather than being in a situation that makes my hubby feel awkward.
@crazysteph28 (17)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I make more than mine does, less an hour bring home more, he pays alot in child support
2 people like this
@Bobbysox (224)
•
27 Sep 08
Sure there are a lot of women earning far more than there men but thats the way of the world isnt it.If I was a man and my partner was earning more than me I would maybe be a bit resentful or jealous,as its always been the man that has been seen as the breadwinner,thats the old fashioned way of thingking though.I really dont see what the big deal is about,as long as ht emony is earnt then thats fine.
@sanell (2112)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I think at first my husband was not okay with this but now, he seems to be okay I mean he is seeing me now get interveiws and offers with some great companies while he is working contract work and making hardly anything, I am sure that pride gets in the way a bit but overall he is happy that money is coming into the house. Now it is a matter of what he is willing to do, is he willing to be a househusband if I bring home the bacon? That will be the question. He has no patience and was not really his ideal but still. We will see what happens I have my second interview today and then my second interview with the other company tomorrow.
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
4 Aug 08
As long as they still remain submisive to their husbands and they respect each other and they contriute to the welfare of the family, I have no problem-but I will definitely have a problem if that money makes her too powerful to the point of disrespecting the husband!
@heero1103 (322)
• Philippines
4 Aug 08
I would love it to have a wife who earns more than me! Not that I am lazy guy, it is just that, having a wife who do earn a lot, means she is better than me. I would be proud of her. I admit that my pride could be somehow affected, but I could swallow my pride.
@ChaseDream (26)
• China
4 Aug 08
Actually it will be a embarrassing situation if a husband finds out that he earn less than his wife do,you know,men almost have distinctively learned to keep their egoes by earning more than women do,if they finally fail they feel that they are inferior and have to divorce partly due to the pressure from outside.
However,if the same thing happens on me,first,I will try to change the situation I am confronting by becoming more and more outstanding,of course ,my final goal is to exceed my wife.In addition to being more excellent I think I will love my wife more than I do before ,without saying,with a little reluctance.And if I am able to transcend,things will be perfect.Anyway,just think of your excellent wife as a kind of power and motivation instead of cause for divorce!
@highlyclever (1111)
• United States
4 Aug 08
My wife was earning more than I was while I was attending post-secondary school, and now I earn more than she does (she is a stay-at-home mom). It all balances out as part of what we do to make ends meet and help our family to survive.
If husbands and wives can work things out and come to some sort of understanding, I think that it can work ok either way - whether the husband or the wife is the one who earns more.
@banadux (630)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I am all for my fiance making more money than me and can't wait for it to happen. It seems silly for people to upset about making less than their spouse. You share all the money anyways, pay the same bills, more money is better for everyone. My fiance is a writer and right now I make more than she does, but one day that will change and I will very much enjoy it. Hopefully I'll have a chance to retire young.
