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Family choices in household production
Author(s) -
ORMSBY TRICIA
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of consumer studies and home economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.775
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1470-6431
pISSN - 0309-3891
DOI - 10.1111/j.1470-6431.1989.tb00030.x
Subject(s) - spouse , residence , production (economics) , negotiation , perception , sample (material) , demographic economics , household income , psychology , social psychology , economics , sociology , geography , microeconomics , social science , chemistry , archaeology , chromatography , anthropology , neuroscience
Families can maintain or raise their standard of living by using their own human resources to produce goods and services for their families' use. Using descriptive methodologies, this study examines household production performed by a random sample of 107 husbands and wives in mid‐Michigan, whose oldest child was between the ages of 6 and 12, and who responded to a self‐administered questionnaire. Given production choices on 54 household production activities, respondents indicated the family chose to perform many activities, purchased less, and omitted few activities. Husbands' and wives' perception of production choices differed significantly. The choices analysed by location of residence, family income, family employment and household size also showed significant differences. Summary and Implications Husbands and wives responded that the family participated in 63–45% of the 54 production activities presented, illustrating that families do consider household production as a viable way to meet their needs. Most reported hiring or buying one‐third less than they produced (17–21%). Slightly less reported that the activities did not apply to them in their family situation (12–28%), and only a few husbands and wives reported consciously omitting activities (1–2%). Husbands' and wives' responses to the questions on the number and type of production choices differed significantly, suggesting that there is generally reduced communication and understanding by the couples as to who is doing what in the household. The decisions on task performance may possibly also be assumed by one spouse or the other (perhaps through traditional sex roles) and little discussion or negotiation on the issues exists.