Class, Gender, and the Family Unit: A Dynamic Model of Stratification and Class Politics

Authors: Plutzer E.¹; Zipp J.F.²

Source: Social Science Research, Volume 30, Number 3, September 2001 , pp. 426-448(23)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $52.63 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

One of the most controversial issues in the literature on class and gender has been how to understand the class positions of dual earner couples. However, a central issue in this debate is, in fact, not testable using typical sample surveys: there is no way to assess if spouses who have different objective class positions also have different subjective class affinities. We use a large sample of British dual earner couples to address this for the first time. Based on our analysis, we have six conclusions: (1) Most couples agree on their class identification and on class politics; (2) this family class effect is not due to common consumption patterns; (3) cross-class couples disagree no more often than same-class couples, undermining the individualistic perspective; (4) husbands are more influenced by their wives' class of origin than by her current class position, with wives drawing more on their husbands' current jobs; (5) the dynamic model of class provides a better fit than the structural model; and (6) “individuals in families” are the most appropriate unit of class analysis. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: The Pennsylvania State University 2: Department of Sociology, University of Akron

Publication date: 2001-09-01