The last fifty years have seen tremendous advancement with the roles of women in the workforce.

This includes how much a married woman earns in comparison to their male partner.

Now, it is much more common for a married woman in a heterosexual relationship to be the primary breadwinner or earn just as much income as their husband.

However, several factors exist that that can cause money issues in marriages where she earns more than him.

Holding on to Assumptions

According to the Pew Research Center, when surveyed, seven out of ten adults reported that it was “very important” that a husband or male partner be capable of being the breadwinner. Yet, just three out of ten respondents said that women should be able to provide. This, despite the fact that some 1/3rd of women who are living with a male partner or are married are now the breadwinners.

The reason for this study result might be due to when the participants were married. Couples who were married in the 1960s or 1970s are much more likely to be at risk of divorcing if the wife earned more than the husband. Yet, those who were married in the 1990s and later do not have such a risk.

So, what can couples do if they are experiencing money issues in marriage due to unequal earnings?

Sensibly Divide Household Tasks

One area to consider when experiencing problems because one earns more than the other is dividing household tasks in a manner that makes sense. This is because the person who is working less or earning less money may be also picking up more household chores.

Make the division of labor in a way that makes sense and is reasonable to both of you. Perhaps one of you is better at managing the finances while the other is good at doing laundry. (And neither task needs to be seen as gender-specific!) If need be, you can adjust the division of labor if you find that things are not working out.

Make Financial Decisions Together

Interestingly, research shows that it doesn’t matter who makes the financial decisions in the home—male or female. But if they are the only person who’s “calling the shots” because they are the breadwinner, resentment will build. And that’s regardless of gender.

Not making these decisions together is one of the biggest money issues in marriage and can lead to couples conflict. Make sure that, when it comes to finances, both of you are on the same page. This is especially true when making decisions on spending money. Neither one of you wants to have a surprise charge on the household credit card!

Communicate When Income Changes

Perhaps one partner wants to quit his high-paying job and stay at home with the kids. Or the other partner just got promoted to a new position, with more responsibility.

When there are potential changes in income for the household it’s important that couples communicate with one another first. It may be your career, but your choices do have an impact on the whole family.

Seek Couples Counseling for Money Issues

If you both are still struggling with money issues in marriage, it may be time to consider getting professional help.

With counseling, you can work on your communication skills and better understand where each of you stands when it comes to money. Also, counseling is an opportunity to voice your feelings on the issue in a setting where you can feel supported.

Money issues in marriage can be one of the biggest points of conflict for any couple, regardless who is the breadwinner. However, you can use the aforementioned ideas to get a handle on any disagreements.

If you would like to learn more about how couples counseling could help you with financial discord, please read more HERE.