(Re-)Defining the Egalitarian Partnership: A Model of Male-Female Interdependence.

Researchers investigating marital egalitarianism have defined that concept in diverse ways, examining such factors as marital power, equal role sharing, and status and resource factors. Data from a series of 12 workshops held between 1982 and 1985 were used to develop an alternate means of conceptualizing an egalitarian partnership between spouses which focuses on the subjective quality of what it means to relate as equals. Based on workshop material, a survey of relationship egalitarianism was developed which included questions on work involvement, participation in domestic tasks and childcare, satisfaction measures, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory to assess the respondent's sex role orientation. The survey was administered to 64 couples. The results revealed no support for the impact of status and resource factors (age, education, income) on marital egalitarianism. In contrast, significant associations were found between sex role orientations and marital equality. Strong correlations between egalitarianism and indices of marital quality suggest that such relationships may be the most satisfying for both partners. The data suggest that the presumed linkage between resource factors and marital power may be mediated by the influence of sex role internalization. (Workshop results are included which summarize subjective interpretations of equal versus unequal relationships, the perceived advantages and disadvantages of each, and sex role impacts on egalitarian partnerships between the sexes.) (Author/NB)