24. Exploring the Changing Demographics of the Corporate Spouse

Abstract

This research explores the historic perspectives of corporate spouses, current gender ideology, and draws on the Canadian Labour Force Survey to explore the changing demographics of corporate spouses. Through time, the cultural image of a corporate spouse has remained fairly constant, with women acting in a supportive role as their husbands, the heads of the household and primary sources of income, go off to work. The impact of corporate spouses on an organization has long been recognized, but the role of the corporate spouse has changed with a broadened definition and expanding impact. Corporate spouses today include men and women, they include people who work outside the home and those who stay home, they include people with children and those without, and they include couples with a broad spectrum of income levels. The impact corporate spouses have on organizations are still substantial and they can be both positive and negative, reflecting the realities of the modern day workplace and relationships. The current work serves as a starting point for research leading to a better understanding of the role of corporate spouses, reflecting current organizational and societal realities.