Women, do you earn more than your husband?

Question

If so, how do you handle the household duties? Who is the primary caregiver, cooks meals, does laundry, handles the household finances? Do you handle all the money or have separate accounts?

I make more than my husband (not much more) and we really share all of the housework and child rearing. He's a very active and involved parent. I handle all of the money, which is a relief to him!

Just wondering how my fellow Alpha-Earning Women are doing it!

Answer 1

I work days and my husband works nights, so there is a "division of the labor" just by virtue of our schedules. I also am the primary breadwinner in the household (and carry the insurance as well). Irrespective of earning potential, I have found that an unfair share of the workload always falls on the Mom. While we both handle the "childrearing" (although he is WAAY better at it than me...where did all this patience he suddenly has come from??!!) we do try to "split" the chores. I expect a lot from my husband (hey, I didn't mess up the kitchen or wear ALL the clothes by myself!!) just because I am at work all day (and it's a high stress job with lots of expectations and deadlines). He will start the laundry and run the dishes and usually I will "finish" those chores when I get home. Often, I have to be very specific and ask him to clean the bathroom or mop the floor, etc. (But he always does it and is always asking what needs to be done.) Did I mention that we also have 6 animals in the house (ranging from dogs to cats to reptiles - some big, some not so big). So, I expect a lot of help from him. (I clean up after the child and the animals...I refuse to clean up after him!) I will do the grocery shopping on the weekends and cook about 95% of the meals (but again, that's purely a "schedule" thing). And I too handle the finances. I don't know when it happened (we've been together for almost 11 years) but it did. And we have just one joint bank account. It's easier, for starters, but I also am not comfortable with a "his and hers" scenario. When we got married we became an "us" - if either of us needs money or wants to make a purchase we are obligated to see what's in the account, what bills still need to be paid, etc. and then make a decision based on our budget if the purchase is "do-able." Ideally, we'd like to get to a financial point where he could be a stay-at-home Dad. And no, his masculinity or identity is not threatened by this...our boy is our number 1 priority and I think it is awesome that he has the opportunity to be so "plugged in" to our family. He is afforded a luxury that most men don't get; I know my father and his father didn't!
And that's pretty much how we do things. I admit, it's tough (just our relationship and not being in the house at the same time) but it is sooo worth it for the munchkin to stay home, even if he doesn't get to see BOTH his parents at the same time. =)

Answer 2

This kind of hurts the whole pay gap argument. One thing caught my attention: Male and female infants actually respond equally NO MALE SUPERIORITY AT SPATIALITY AND MATHMATEICS AT EARLY AGE Female infants have superior understanding of mechanical reasoning: but never ever ever ever discussed in the headlines She says there's nothing to really back up one thing, then states another "fact" and has no data to back that up either. Really? Something's a little suspicious about that. Anyway, I always thought it was supposed to be a little later in life that boys were supposed to be better at those things, not at an "early age." That lowers the credibility of the article in my opinion. Don't crticize others for not doing something and then not do it yourself. Having said that, much of the rest of the article looks like it might have some truth to it. I question the divorce stat though. My own personal experience around others whose parents divorced tells me that kids whose parents divorce do often go through some kind of trauma. Many kids of divorced parents I know showed some pretty visible changes after the divorce as compared to before it. Come to think of it, she didn't really show any evidence for several things on there. She just said something, claimed a study somewhere backs it up, and left it at that. Isn't that what she started complaining about at the beginning of the article?

Answer 3

I earn more money and we share all the duties. The money has nothing to do with house hold chores and duties that go on with day to day lives. But I must admit I stash a little on the side and put in CD's at the bank. We have more money than he thinks we do. But we live good. If we ever break up I will give him a %age because some of the money is his.

Not married. Me and my boyfriend.

Answer 4

Pretty much the same for us for 20 years except we have separate accounts and share the bill paying proportionately to our income. we raised 19 children (mostly adopted or fostered)and are very happily still together all kids grown

Answer 5

I used to, and handled everything. He shared with housework and raising our child, of course.

Answer 6

Absolutely! And, I do everything....you name it! Oh, I get paid to stay at home!!! Sorry.

Answer 7

thru a lot of hard work..at least you some physical help...

that's wonderful...

imagine doing it all....( no, don't )

appreciate your man..

Answer 8

It depends on which street corners we're working.

Answer 9

Yes!! But I don't waste it

Answer 10

no he makes more