How Higher Intra-Household Status Differentially Affects Job Satisfaction For Women

Based on two studies with full-time working married individuals across US and UK, this paper explores whether being head of the household reduces job satisfaction for married women compared to married men. In Study 1 (N=15,890), we use a cross-sectional survey of Americans and show that job satisfaction falls due to an increase in perceived financial difficulty for married women compared to married men. Study 2 (N=79,422) utilizes a longitudinal survey in the UK and confirms the result as well as the mediator. Since, for the longitudinal survey, the same individuals were interviewed over the years, we could track job satisfaction in different years under different conditions. Study 2 builds upon Study 1 as we perform an event study analysis to test the temporal persistence of the negative effect on job satisfaction after becoming the head. This negative effect dissipates after 3-5 years of becoming head.