On this episode of the Soulful MBA podcast, we talk about a slightly controversial topic—the value of a wife. We touch on several articles we’ve read recently about the economic benefits for men who have a wife at home (or at least in a position where she is still primarily responsible for childcare and the emotional labor that takes place in families).

As feminists and entrepreneurs, we felt that it was important to invite this conversation into our community because there is still so much we need to shift in our culture around gender and the workplace.

Do you also wish for a wife—someone to take care of all the details and homework so that you can focus on your career and on building your business?

The first article we’re discussing is “70% of Top Male Earners in the US Have a Spouse Who Stays Home”. Another article we’d like to talk about is titled “What ‘Good’ Dads Get Away With”, which is the other side of the coin. You might have a husband who does a lot more than most husbands and fathers, yet you still find yourself being the primary caretaker and filling in all the gaps in your family’s day-to-day life.

Either way, women are often financially marginalized by gender roles and these seem to be exacerbated when we become mothers. This conversation affects almost all of us and it has to be acknowledged that it is still largely an unequal playing field. Something’s got to give!

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Examples of the silent labor we as women do that we’re not always aware of.

•    How men still have a higher earning capacity in the existing economic structures. 

•    The unequal playing field, where men have a different set of opportunities than women.

•    The double pressure on women to be home with the kids while also building a career.

•    Why so many women choose to hold back on their own ambitions.

•    The gender pay gap as a root cause of women staying home with the kids.

•    Drop the Ball and what women can do to change the patterns of unequal burden.

•    Why women often don’t ask for help.

•    Buying your way out of these part-time family responsibilities as a possible solution.

Words of Wisdom:

“He can turn off when he comes home from work and I can’t because there are just so many little, minute things that we have to deal.”

“Not only do customers expect to pay less for products from women-owned companies, but women who launch their own businesses also have a harder time attracting venture capital funding or bank loans.”

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Soulful MBA

Tiffany Dufu

Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less

Rachel Hollis

This Week's Joy: SOMA System Focus Roller

This week's Hustle: 70% of top male earners in the US have a spouse who stays home / What ‘Good’ Dads Get Away With

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