The Influence of Non-Spousal Owned Housing on Marital Power and Marital Satisfaction: Gender Differences in Taiwan

Abstract

This study discusses the role of housing in marital life within the context of the patriarchal norms of Taiwan and analyzes the effect of housing tenure on marital power, as well as gender-specific housing expectations in terms of marital satisfaction. It is found that, in addition to directly affecting marital power, housing tenure not only can moderate the relationships between family structure and marital power and between marital power and marital satisfaction, but also marital satisfaction through the mediating effect of marital power. The gender specific effect of housing tenure cannot be completely explained by the resource theory; hence, gender roles and changing gender consciousness must be considered in modifications of this theory. For women, housing tenure is strongly associated with family structure and marital power, and may even change the direct effect of family structure on marital power, which explains for their preference for housing within the context of patrilocal cohabitation. The study also identifies gender specific housing expectations in terms of marital satisfaction, which may be due to the fact that husbands try to strengthen their gender and class and wives realize their preference for equal rights through housing tenure. These findings provide insights into the role of housing tenure in marital life, thus informing the formulation of housing policy.