What really created the need for dual income families?

Question

I have seen assertions that the feminist movement is responsible for this phenomenon. How so? Connect the dots for me, please.

I see a very different reason for the need to have two incomes. I'll post it before putting this question to a vote.

As promised, here is my take on it:
I think it is a “keeping up with the Joneses” issue… we must live in a $300K home, drive cars that are less than 5 years old, kids *need* the latest electronic toys, designer clothes, etc. If people simply made more modest spending choices, wouldn’t it be possible to live on an average income?

I put it up for voting. Thanks for all teh terrific answers...especially Greymalkin - very thorough as usual!

Answer 1

I see it as a combination of things. Women were given the freedom of choice-- to stay at home and raise kids or to have a career and use their minds. Many women took this latter path and started making money and accumulating stuff. Cars, new house, new clothes, etc etc. In time, everyone wanted more stuff. Greed took over and more women went to work. Thus two incomes and more stuff for everyone. It became a "must have," not a "would be nice" situation. Have to keep up with the neighbors....

Answer 2

ok, heres how i see it. for one thing, no one knows what a good economy is unless you lived in the 50s, 60s, or early 70s. one good income could support a family of 4, owning a home and a new car. women inter the work force full tilt. they worked for less and worked harder because they had something to prove. in the meantime, business people saw this coming and up went prices. i grew up in a medium sized iowa town, and the best place to work was the john deere plant. they employed alot of people, so the economy was set to their wage bracket. most of it is government doings. that is the feds and localls. they see more income per family, the prices gradually go up until you have no choice but to have 2 incomes and live. the towns have seen this and make their economy to the point that its impossible to move. if you make enough to move, you dont need to. so to connect the dots, more income, higher prices. the feminist movement demanded equal pay, which in turn made more income and higher prices. then theres the divorce rate, which was not anticipated. we are now back to a single income, and theres no way to make it except for child support. time to capitalize on another issue. i see guys pay up to $250 and up a week for 2 kids. with the government money, the exes can live large and not work at all. if they have good jobs, the support is the same. i see this all the time. the woman isnt satisfied in her marrage, gets a divorce, has a good job, finds someone else, gets remarried, and they are set. its their income, plus the new guys, plus child support, which does not go down. that is reallity in the blue collar world. i actually hope you can prove me wrong. it might give some people hope.

Answer 3

The oil increase that happened in 1972-73, I was working as a machinist and supporting a family of five, my sons were 7, 8 and 11 years old and we as a family were doing very well untill the oil price went nuts...we owned our own home for the last 7 years, but everything increased so much, my wife had to go to work,, and that really hurt us...it really changed our family without mom at home..until then we were living the american dream and it was realiaty...then when that happened, I really got pissed at what greedy outsiders can do to Innocent hard working people and have not forgot it...it has made me angry and I do not trust big business or the government in any way...right after that the U.S. government did away with consumer protection which would not let business increase costs over a certain percent and that helped all of us..but in 72 the law changed and we have not had protection sense and look what has happened...no it was not the feminist movement..it was because women had to go to work to survive and they too became angry...my wife was very happy being a mother and home maker...and I saw what it did to her to end that life....then what happened was all the vultures came out of the woodwork, real estate, lawyers, bankers, insurance company's, health care, car sales and mechanics...and took advantage of the times and prices and costs have never been the same....I really wish people today could experiecen the way life was in the fifty's and sixty's...and wish we could of hung onto it..but...greed over rules......thanks....

Answer 4

Well, I believe that it's more complicated than A -->B, more like A--->B---->C, but Ill give it a shot.

As women felt encouraged by the feminist movement to seek outside employment, they began to work for pay more regularly during their "mothering" years.

As more families enjoyed the benefits of the extra income, they quickly used the income to buy houses in better school districts.

Those houses were quickly priced out of reach to the average one-income family (20k a year less, on average)

Child care tax subsidies shifted even more money away from one-income families to two income families. (Particularly upper-middle class families)

There you have it. (Or at least, part of it) The combination of encouraging mothers into the workforce, plus the pro-day care movement, (which has been a major effort of several big-name feminists) meant that the people most interested in moving to good school districts - parents of young children - now often had a huge advantage in this race. A student voucher system might be one way to attack this problem, if it weren't for the church and state issues.

Of course, many other things added to this - lower wages for men, (much of the narrowing of the gender wage gap is actually due to this) massive student loans, etc., but the idea that it is healthy, normal, and even ideal for middle-class moms of babies to be in the paid workforce certainly contributed. There are so many reasons, though, and the (inadvertant) effects of modern feminism are only part of the issue.

Answer 5

Chasing the so called American dream after WWII . In to days society it takes two incomes to have all the nice things we just can not seem to live without. A new home ,cars ,TVs etc etc etc.
Folks today are spoiled they have the I want it and I want it now attitude. In order to have things they or many sacrifice their family's for a paycheck.

Answer 6

Selfishness and greed. Society is unable to live within their means. We are a society of consumers. We always have to have the most up to date gadget, the biggest house, the biggest, "cool" (overpriced) SUV, go on the most expensive vacations, not to keep up with the Joneses but better them. Credit card debt is at an all time high.

So, each home needs two incomes to "survive".

Answer 7

Years ago, a family worked together for the good of the family, they possibly had gardens, and put away food for winter months, tended animals for food and clothing, Cooked food from scratch, made and mended clothing. worked side by side to provide necessities of life, meaning. Food, clothing , shelter, and love from family members. They didn't travel as much or as far, didn't have large malls with every imaginable thing to say buy me. They made toys for their children and taught them to think, to have imaginations, to learn how things worked , and how to work, and no they didn't need a lot of money. For they had a family that did things together, not distracted by modern technology , with each member going off and doing their own thing. It was not material things that gave them pleasure, it was the love of family that made them richer the the Jones next door, with all their material possessions needing to be house and cared for to the detriment of what really mattered.

Answer 8

I think the reason is to keep up with the Jones'. Some families need the second income, but most families just want it.

Answer 9

Decrease in traditional blue collar jobs, and increase in low-paying service jobs.

Oh, also, the Baby Boomers - with a spike in the population, price of real estate skyrocketed.