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The Rise and Decline of the 'Male Breadwinner Family' in Britain

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  • Creighton, Colin

Abstract

This paper examines changes in the historical 'compact' around the male breadwinner family (MBWF) in Britain. The rise of the MBWF produced a 'compact' covering the sexual division of labour, the economic support of family members, the distribution of time and the regulation of marriage and parenthood. Its decline has been accompanied by an erosion of each dimension of this compact, which has reduced gender inequalities but produced other problems. The author argues that a new compact is required if solutions to these problems are to be combined with an extension of gender equity. Particular attention is paid to the role of shorter working hours as a component of different social arrangements over time. Copyright 1999 by Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Creighton, Colin, 1999. "The Rise and Decline of the 'Male Breadwinner Family' in Britain," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 23(5), pages 519-541, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:23:y:1999:i:5:p:519-41
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    Cited by:

    1. WARREN Tracey, 2004. "Operationalising breadwinning work: gender and work in 21st century Europe," IRISS Working Paper Series 2004-08, IRISS at CEPS/INSTEAD.
    2. John Sender, 2000. "Struggles To Escape Poverty In South Africa: Results From A Purposive Rural Survey," Working Papers 107, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK.
    3. Simon Deakin, 2005. "The Capability Concept and the Evolution of European Social Policy," Working Papers wp303, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
    4. Sara Connolly & Matthew Aldrich & Margaret O’Brien & Svetlana Speight & Eloise Poole, 2016. "Britain’s slow movement to a gender egalitarian equilibrium: parents and employment in the UK 2001–13," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 30(5), pages 838-857, October.
    5. Jan Bavel & Martin Klesment, 2017. "Educational Pairings, Motherhood, and Women’s Relative Earnings in Europe," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(6), pages 2331-2349, December.
    6. Brehmer, Wolfram & Klenner, Christina & Klammer, Ute, 2010. "Wenn Frauen das Geld verdienen - eine empirische Annäherung an das Phänomen der Familienernährerin," WSI Working Papers 170, The Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), Hans Böckler Foundation.
    7. Frans W. A. Van Poppel & Hendrik P. Van Dalen & Evelien Walhout, 2009. "Diffusion of a social norm: tracing the emergence of the housewife in the Netherlands, 1812–19221," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 62(1), pages 99-127, February.
    8. Humphries, Jane & Schneider, Benjamin, 2021. "Gender equality, growth, and how a technological trap destroyed female work," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118295, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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