More women are becoming breadwinners; many husbands are fine with that

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: She earns more, and that's OK
As education and job market patterns shift, more women are becoming breadwinners. Many husbands are fine with that.
By Molly Selvin, Times Staff Writer
February 4, 2007

....Couples...with the wife bringing home most of the bacon are becoming increasingly common and accepted among the nation's twenty- and thirtysomethings, the result of shifting education and job market patterns, and new attitudes toward work, family and gender differences.

That could help accelerate the growth in the number of marriages in which women are the sole or primary breadwinners. Census Bureau data show that 25.3% of women in two-income marriages bring home the bigger paycheck, up from 17.8% in 1987.

Younger women, now graduating from college at higher rates than men and aggressively recruited by many employers, are becoming anything but desperate housewives. Some, like Danielle Frazier, out-earn male peers starting with their first jobs.

The salaries of college-educated women have risen much faster than those of male graduates, up 34.4% since 1979 versus 21.7% for men, according to Catalyst, a New York-based research group.

Among twenty- and thirtysomethings, more women than men have college degrees. The gap is widest among 25- to 29-year-olds, according to the Census Bureau, with 25.5% of men holding a bachelor's degree as compared with 32.2% of women. Women now account for close to half of medical and law students, funneling them into lucrative careers....

***

...men in their 20s and 30s are increasingly comfortable with being the lower-paid spouse and more willing than their fathers — eager, even — to take on responsibility for child rearing and household duties, surveys show....

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wives4feb04,0,2107567,full.story?coll=la-default-underdog

[Warpy]

1. I knew a couple who did that 30 years ago

his business went tits up and hers took off. He stayed home and cleaned and took care of the kid. He also supported her emotionally by telling her that the world was wrong and that she could be a great success. He was right. She was.

Back then, a lot of people looked down on him, and I could never figure out why.

I'm just glad he's being vindicated now and that he's still here to see it.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Great story, Warpy -- thank you! nt

[dogday]

3. As long as the man contributes is some way

there is no shame in it... None whatsoever... It is a hard job and most women see that....

[crispini]

4. I wish I could find a guy like the one in the article.

Many of the guys I've dated don't seem to be OK with that.

[abluelady]

5. Have I got a Guy For You! eom

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. That's the way it is with us right now

My husband became ill and could no longer do the physical labor connected with his job. We've muddled by on my salary, and he is slowly regaining his strength. But he is strong enough in his self esteem to not mind that he is the house husband. I think I am very lucky.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. You are -- best to you both! nt

[Retired AF Dem]

8. I currently make about 45,000

a year with my job and military retirement. My wife makes 74,000 a year. (Commissary store director) I have no problem with that. :)

[EstimatedProphet]

9. We did that

When we first got together, I had resigned my job and moved in with the Prophetess. She had a job, and I moderated DU for a year :) (actually, there was nothing in the area for me). That didn't bother me.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. My Wife Makes A Little More Than I Do Right Now Too. I Wish I Could Just Stay Home With The Kids

(as does she), but neither of us can since we still need both of our incomes even after deducting the $1800 a month we'd save on daycare. But I have no problem that she makes a few more grand than I do. Way I see it, the money's the money, regardless of which of us it comes from. The more of it the merrier right? And hey, if we get divorced someday she'll have to pay ME alimony LOL.