DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE IN MARRIAGE - EQUALITY OR EQUITY

Experimental studies of distributive justice suggest that men prefer a n equity rule for allocating rewards, whereas women prefer equality. T hese differences are likely to carry implications for distributive jus tice in the context of marriage. There is a popular view in Western so cieties that marriage should be regarded as a partnership of equals, a nd this is also an implicit assumption in microeconomic accounts of th e family. However, inequality between spouses is still commonplace, wi th the husband more likely to have overall financial control and great er access to money for personal spending (PSM). This paper investigate s the issue of sharing in marriage, with particular reference to PSM, using data from an in-depth interview study supplemented by some follo w-up questionnaires. The participants were 13 women and nine of their partners, mainly 'middle class' and aged between 30 and 50. After clas sifying each couple's system of financial management, the paper focuse s upon eight couples with a philosophy of sharing. The findings show t hat, despite attempts to equalize outcomes for both partners, a sense of 'ownership' associated with having earned the money seemed to rende r it more salient than other, non-financial contributions to the marri age. As a result, patterns of control and personal spending appeared t o be based upon equity rather than equality.