Wives' Employment: The Role of Husbands' Perceived Attitudes

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of the Labor Market Experiences of Young Women, the relations between husbands' perceived attitudes toward their wives' working and the early employment attitudes and behavior of wives are examined. Revisions in husbands' perceived attitudes during the early years of marriage, to conform with wives' employment attitudes and behavior, are found. In turn, wives' employment behavior is influenced by husbands' perceived preferences, but only among black respondents are wives' attitudes influenced by perceived attitudes of husbands. Implications of our findings are discussed.