A Comparison of Power Structure and Marital Satisfaction in Urban Greek and French Families

Abstract

Data based on interviews with a random sample of 133 Athenian wives indicate that, in contrast to highly industrialized countries, the Greek husband's possession of a high education, skilled or prestigeful occupation, and high salary tends to diminish rather than increase his authority in the family. In practically all circumstances, the two decisions relating to the choice of friends and the use of leisure time are predominantly masculine, while the decisions concerning child-rearing, the purchase of clothes, furniture, household equipment, and budgeting are predominantly feminine. While the power structure trends in the urban Greek family go contrary to trends in industrialized countries, general trends in marital satisfaction tend to agree with trends observed in more industrialized countries,