Money Mastery Method with Linda Davies

A recent study by the French National Institute of Demographic Studies reveals that French couples where women earn more are at a significantly higher risk of splitting up.

The so-called “female-breadwinner penalty” seems to persist across the board – marriages, civil partnerships, even cohabiting couples.

When wives contribute significantly more (65-75%) to household income, the likelihood of divorce spikes by 20% compared to the average. But for those couples where wives earn between 10% and 15% of total family earnings, the likelihood of divorce is 40% lower than average.

Whether it’s male egos feeling threatened or women seeing new options for independence, the data suggests these dynamics still heavily influence relationship stability. The newspaper, Le Parisien, suggested that perhaps this was a result of men who consciously or unconsciously, undermined their relationships if they were earning less than their partner.

Although France is a country proud of its egalitarian values, the traditional expectations of who should be the primary earner still seem to shape relationship outcomes. 

This dynamic was not limited to France. The study reported similar trends across other western countries too.

Is financial equality still a challenge in supposedly ‘egalitarian’ societies? And more importantly, how do we redefine our expectations to genuinely support partnership in the 21st century?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this: Are these findings surprising to you, or do they reflect the experiences you’ve seen around you?

#GenderDynamics #FinancialEquality #RelationshipChallenges #BreadwinnerEffect #ModernRelationships #FinancialIndependence #EqualityInMarriage #EconomicPower #SocialNorms #LeadershipAndLove #WealthAndRelationships #EgalitarianValues #FinancialWellness #CorporateInsights #RedefiningRoles