The power of motherhood: A contextual evaluation of family resources

Abstract

Motherhood is considered a liability to women's socioeconomic status and marital power. However, by examining only married couples in conventional families, child care provider, gender, and low status have been confounded in previous research. Using data from a nationwide survey, we investigate couples for whom socioeconomic status and hierarchical gender relations are muted in order to separate these effects. The results show that being the primary caretaker of children can be a source of relationship power under certain conditions. These findings suggest a transformation in the meaning and value of child care with the structural and ideological advancement of women.