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Data concerning a number of wives' sociological characteristics and some variables reflecting family dynamics were collected on a stratified sample of 540 nonworking Athenian women and a stratified sample of 346 working Athenian women. The wife's generation and level of education, both reflecting her degree of adherence to traditional or modern values, seem to be the most important predictors of family size. The wife's employment was related to a smaller family size only among women over 40 for whom employment may represent a rebellious emancipation, while for younger women the working role is a socially approved and often even expected role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]