A new study has revealed that money troubles are affecting men's sense of masculinity, with 57% of men reporting that financial difficulties harm their perception of their own manhood. The research highlights how income disparities in relationships can impact male mental health, particularly when women outearn their male partners.
Interviews with men in relationships where women were the primary breadwinners uncovered feelings of judgement and diminished self-worth. Participants like Dave described feeling a sting to their pride, while Tom noted that others perceived him as less masculine. Another man, Brendon, faced family members labelling him 'the house bitch'.
The study suggests that societal expectations of men as breadwinners are slow to change, even as more women become higher earners. This can lead to men feeling disempowered, decreasing mental wellbeing and increasing the likelihood of divorce. Research from Sweden found that when wives began to outearn their husbands, there was an up to 11% rise in mental health diagnoses among men.
Despite the increase in breadwinning women, gender roles at home remain stubbornly traditional. Even when women earn more, they still do more housework and childcare. Men who are outearned report lower satisfaction, and the taboo around discussing the issue exacerbates the problem.
However, some men are finding positive ways to adapt. Harry Bunton, an ex-consultant who lost his job, shared on social media that he now feels 'empowered to be the dad that I want to be', challenging the notion that a man's value is tied to his earnings.
