Wives Wield Decision Power in Marriage

Balance of Problem-Solving Power Weighs in Favor of Women
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

July 9, 2007 -- Men may rule the world but women rule the roost, according a new study that shows women wield considerably more decision-making power than men within marriages.

Researchers found that wives, on average, displayed more power than their husbands during problem-solving discussions, regardless of who brought up the topic of discussion.

And it’s not simply a case of women talking more than men.

“It wasn’t just that the women were bringing up issues that weren’t being responded to, but that the men were actually going along with what they said,” researcher Megan Murphy, assistant professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, says in a news release. “They were communicating more powerful messages, and men were responding to those messages by agreeing or giving in.”

“There’s been research that suggests that’s a marker of a healthy marriage – that men accept influence from their wives,” Murphy says.
Women Have Marriage Power

The study involved 72 married couples from Iowa who were observed and evaluated while they discussed problems in their relationship of their own choosing. The average age of the participants was about 33 and average length of marriage was seven years.

Researchers videotaped the discussions and then coded the couple’s behaviors according to a widely used interaction rating system.

The results showed that women appeared to have more power during the discussions in the form of domineering and dominant behaviors than their husbands, regardless of who brought up the topic.

Researchers say the findings contradict the current societal power structure.

“This study at least suggests that the marriage is a place where women can exert some power,” researcher David Vogel, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Iowa State, says in the release. “Whether or not it’s because of changing societal roles, we don’t know. But they are, at least, taking responsibility and power in these relationships.”

The study appears in the Journal of Counseling Psychology.

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What do you think about this?

The continued pusification of the male species.

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Jiggles, you really must stop talking to my wife. She has enough to do just keeping me in line.

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I couldn't agree more!

As once spoken by someone of history.....unnamed of course.....SENSE THE BEGINNING OF TIME...WOMEN HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE TRUE THRONE OF POWER IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEN.....LITERALLY.....Author Unknown

LOL! LOL! LOL! Oh so true bluedog...Oh so true!

I found it ironic, especially this part:

"The results showed that women appeared to have more power during the discussions in the form of domineering and dominant behaviors than their husbands, regardless of who brought up the topic."

We can agree that women generally say they want a "leader" or "dominant male". The word "strong" comes up more than once.

So why do they do the exact opposite TO men when it comes to conversations?

I think what the study's findings are true- men are generally not interested in hostile/aggressive communication towards their partners, while women seem to relish in its glory.

The ideal response would probably be (from a male perspective), to come to an agreement on your own terms, or failing that, to tell her to hit the highway.

Is that the only way a man can preserve his role as leader and dominant? To treat women like he doesn't value them?

Recent studies have concluded what I have always known and that is that women do not talk more than men, but they do talk better. In my own case, my guy would rather have an ingrown nail removed than discuss any serious subject with me. Oh, he loved talking to his buddies about, essentially, NOTHING, but when it came to discussions about serious subjects, words left him. That's frustrating for women. If it isn't about sex, sports, cars, construction, politics, etc. men have a tendency to go mute....no words. I would say, "We really need to get the kid in line with household chores." His response, "Fine. Whatever." Next day....no action, no words. I would say, "We really need to get the house re-insulated." He would say, "I'll get a couple of bids." Next day....ONE bid that took all day 'cause they had to talk. Next day....ONE bid that took all day 'cause they had to talk. Came home to find husband and contractor watching a game on tv and drinking beer. "Did you get a bid?" "Yeah and it was higher than the first one, but I like this guy." They became buddies and the house was never re-insulated.

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Without women, money would have no meaning......Aristotle Onassis.

Women classically have tended the house, so it makes sense that they are more forceful in fixing what they perceive as problems, it's their domain.

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Never trouble to deny;
Should the words they say be true,
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The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his.
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Why is it that a man has to think that if a woman doesn't agree with them that it's a value judgement or that he is weak in some way? Why do some men not value their wives opinion? Does not valuing her opinion and giving her a say in the matter make him more of a man in some way? No! It doesn't.

A man should honor his wife and that means listening to her input whether he likes it or not. And vica versa I might add.

However, I agree with carsayzylum in that the home is the woman's domain and the woman is usually the one who keeps things on some sort of schedule in the home.