Baseball wives - Gender and the work of baseball

This article focuses on how the structure and constraints of the occupation of professional baseball shapes the lives of the players' wives. The major constraints on the role of baseball wives include high geographical mobili ty, the husband's frequent absence, lack of a social support network, and t he precariousness of baseball careers. Baseball wives are expected to fulfi ll a traditional role of support for their husbands and families. Baseball wives play a backstage supporting role but in so doing become far more inde pendent and resourceful than many American women, managing families and hou seholds on their own.