Working Wives: Their Impact on Perceptions of Role Competency of Middle‐Age Husbands

Abstract

The impact of the employment of the wife on the middle‐age man's perceptions of competency in the provider role and the husband role was explored in this study. Pro portional for the area in race and socioeconomic status, the sample of 175 married men, 25 to 55 years of age, employed in business or industry, were interviewed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. An analysis of variance was used to statistically test for significant factors. The employment status of the wife had no significant impact on perceptions of husband competence or provider competence. The interaction of race and employ ment status of the wife was significant to perceived competence in the provider role. White husbands perceived themselves as most competent providers when wives held blue collar jobs, while black husbands perceived themselves as most competent providers when wives held white collar jobs.