Marriage Ideology And Decision-Making -- By: Susan H. Howell

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 32:4 (Autumn 2018)
Article: Marriage Ideology And Decision-Making
Author: Susan H. Howell


Marriage Ideology And Decision-Making

Susan H. Howell

Bethany G. Lester, Alayna N. Owens

Bethany Lester is a graduate of Campbellsville University with a major in psychology. Bethany served as a research assistant for Dr. Howell.

Alayna Owens is a graduate of Campbellsville University with majors in psychology and criminal justice. Alayna served as a research assistant for Dr. Howell.

This article reports on a study of the ideologies and decision-making of Christian married couples. We specifically explored the beliefs these couples held regarding decision-making at the beginning of their marriages, those they currently hold, and what prompted any changes in those beliefs across time. Individuals, churches, and organizations, such as CBE International, can benefit from knowing how Christian couples today describe themselves in terms of egalitarian or patriarchal ideology. In addition, when these couples report a shift, we can benefit from knowing the change agents responsible in order to maximize our efforts in bringing about equality in the home.

Method

Sample And Participant Selection

The 328 participants ranged in age from 18 to over 80 years of age, with the majority being young adults, ages 20–39. (See Table 1 for age distribution.) Surveys were completed predominantly by wives (84%). A variety of ethnic backgrounds were represented, although the vast majority (97%) were white. Income fell within a normal curve. The majority of respondents (82%) reported being in their first marriage. Length of marriages ranged from less than one year to over fifty years, with a higher representation (79%) of those married twenty or fewer. (See Table 2 for distribution of years married.) Most respondents had at least some college (26%) or were college graduates (61%).

Instrument

The survey asked each participant to identify her or his beliefs about marriage, both at the beginning of their current marriage and at the present time. The options were as follows:

1. The husband should make the important decisions; the wife should submit to his authority.

2. The husband should make the important decisions while considering the wife’s opinion.

3. The husband and wife should work together, having equal input.

While we did not label them as such on the survey, these options were intended to exemplify extreme patriarchy, soft patriarchy, and egalitarianism, respectively.

For those whose beliefs had changed over time, we provided a list of possible reasons for those changes and asked that they choose as many as applied to them. They also had the opportunity to write in any reas...

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