Domestic finance in South Asian households in East London

Abstract

This article examines South Asian women's experiences of domestic finance in households in East London. The findings indicate that women's level of education and economic activity affects their access to domestic finance. This is also related to women's marital status and family type. There are significant differences between white and South Asian households in the organisation of domestic finance. In lower income households, men are more likely to control domestic finance, women hand over their wage packets to their husbands and men decide how women's earnings are spent. In these households couples are more likely to employ the ‘whole wage’ system. In other low income households, couples employ the ‘allowance’ system. Women in low income households were more likely to have an ‘arranged marriage’ ('traditional’ families) and have low levels of education. Those in higher income households are more likely to share the control of domestic finance and employ the ‘allowance’ or ‘joint management’ system of domestic finance. Women in high income households were more likely to be cohabiting with their partners ('cohabiting’ families) and have high levels of education.