Abstract
While much of the empirical literature on intra-household decision-making has focused more on the factors associated with women's agency in autonomous decisions, this current study is concerned with the conditions supporting relative autonomy or joint decision-making. Literature suggests that only about 40% took sole or joint decisions about major household purchases. The ability of women to express agency as decision-makers at home has been attributed mainly to their socioeconomic characteristics. The central hypothesis of this study is that the style of decision-making within households will be strongly associated with sociocultural norms owing to the dominant patriarchal structure of Nigerian society. Therefore, this study examines household decision-making dynamics through structured interviews of 320 married individuals selected in Lagos State, Nigeria. The leading independent variables were gender role attitudes and religiosity. The other explanatory variables were the couple's relative differentials in age, educational levels, earnings, and asset ownership. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to predict the proxy variables of decision-making styles from the explanatory variables. The study finds that 25% of participants reported that decisions were joint, while 57.5% reported a male-dominant style concerning financial decision-making. The factors that most influenced household styles were gender role attitudes and religiosity. These findings suggest that policy interventions addressing social norms to tilt the gender balance of power would achieve much-desired outcomes beyond improving female access to resources.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data are available from the author upon reasonable request.
References
Agarwal B (1997) Bargaining and gender relations: within and beyond the household. FemEcon 3(1):1–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/135457097338799
Albert C, Escardíbul JO (2017) Education and the empowerment of women in household decision-making in Spain. Int J Consum Stud 41:158–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12326
Anyasor OM (2018) Socio-economic role on spouse’s dominance of purchase decision of household goods in Nigeria. Int J Trend Res Dev 5(1):175–193
Asa SS, Kupoluyi JA, Oyinloye BO, Titilayo A (2017) Multivariate analysis of household decision making, contraceptive use, and fertility behaviour among ever-married men in Nigeria. Afr Res Rev 11(4):74–78. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v11i4.7
Bandiera O, Buehren N, Burgess R, Goldstein M, Gulesci S, Rasul I, Sulaiman M (2020) Women’s empowerment in action: evidence from a randomized control trial in Africa. Am Econ J Appl Econ 12(1):210–259
Bazik NA (2011) Gender Role Attitudes in Youth. General University Honors; 2011. Washington, D.C.: Washington research library Consortium: American University. Professor Noemi Enchautegui de Jesus.
Bertocchi G, Brunetti M, Torricelli C (2014) Who holds the purse strings within the household? The determinants of intra-family decision making. J Econ Behav Organ 101:65–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2014.02.012
Bhasin K (2003) What is patriarchy? Women Unlimited, New Delhi
Cantillon S, Maître B, Watson D (2016) Family financial management and individual deprivation. J Fam Econ Issues 37:461–473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-015-9466-z
Coleman DH, Straus MA (1990) Marital power, conflict, and violence in a nationally representative sample of American couples. In: Gelles RJ (ed) Straus. Physical violence in American families. transaction publishers, New Brunswick, NJ, pp 287–304
DeSilva S.J. (2016) The work of women in Nigeria. World Bank Blogs March 15, 2016. https://blogs.worldbank.org/africacan/the-work-of-women-in-nigeria
Donald A, Koolwal G, Annan J, Falb K, Goldstein M (2020) Measuring Women’s Agency Fem Econ 26(3):200–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2019.1683757
Dosman D, Adamowicz W (2006) Combining stated and revealed preference data to construct an empirical examination of intrahousehold bargaining. Rev Econ Househ 4:15–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-005-6695-1
Edgell P, Docka D (2007) Beyond the nuclear family? Familism and gender ideology in diverse religious communities. Sociol Forum 22:25–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1573-7861.2006.00003.x
Edgell S. (1980) Middle-Class Couples: a study of segregation, domination, and inequality in marriage. Allen & Unwin.
Edgell P (2006) Religion and family in a changing society: series. In: di Maggio P, Lamont M, Wuthnow R, Zelizer V (eds) Cultural sociology. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Eerdewijk AV, Wong F, Vaast C, Newton J, Tyszler M, Pennington A (2017) A Conceptual model of women’s and girls empowerment. KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam
Fiala N, He X (2017) Unitary or non-cooperative intra-household model? Evidence from couples in Uganda. World Bank Econ Rev 30(Suppl. 1):S77–S85
Flinn CJ, Todd PE, Zhang W (2018) Personality traits, intra-household allocation, and the gender wage gap. Eur Econ Rev 109:191–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.11.003
Fox GL, Murry VM (2000) Gender and Families: Feminist Perspectives and Family Research. J Marriage Fam 62(4):1160–1172. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1566729
Fuseini K, Kalule-Sabiti I, Lwanga C (2019) Dynamics of Women’s Autonomy in Household Decision-Making in Ghana. J Comp Fam Stud 50(4):293–312. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26899748
Garrisondesany HM, Wilson E, Munos M, Morgan R (2021) The role of gender power relations on women’s health outcomes: evidence from a maternal health coverage survey in Simiyu region Tanzania. BMC Public Health 21:909. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10972-w
Glas S, Alexander A (2020) Explaining support for Muslim feminism in the Arab Middle East and North Africa. Gend Soc 34(3):437–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243220915494
Goldscheider F, Bernhardt E, Lappegard T (2015) The gender revolution: understanding changing family and demographic behavior. Population Dev 41(2):207–239
Gruber S, Szołtysek M (2016) The patriarchy index: a comparative study of power relations across historical Europe. Hist Fam 21(2):133–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/1081602X.2014.1001769
Guiso L, Sodini P (2013) Household finance: an emerging field. In: Constantinides G, Harris M, Stulz R (eds) Handbook of the Economics of Finance. Elsevier Science, Oxford, pp 1397–1532
Guveli A (2015) Are Movers More Religious than Stayers? Religiosity of European Majority, Turks in Europe and Turkey. Review of Religious Research, 57, 1, 43–62. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43920079
Hannover B, Gubernath J, Schultze M, Zander L (2018) Religiosity, religious fundamentalism, and ambivalent sexism toward girls and women among adolescents and young adults living in Germany. Front Psychol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02399
Hausmann R, Tyson LD (2012) Zahidi S (2012) The Global Gender Gap Report. World Economic Forum, Geneva
Henrich J, Boyd R, Richerson PJ (2012) The Puzzle of Monogamous Marriage. Philos Trans R Soc B 367:657–669. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.029
Hidrobo M, Hoel JB, Wilson K (2021) Efficiency and status in polygynous pastoralist households. J Dev Stud 57(2):326–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2020.1762863
Hidrobo M, Heath R, Roy S (2018) Cash transfers, polygamy, and intimate partner violence: Experimental evidence from Mali. IFPRI Discussion Paper (1785).
Hirshleifer DA (2015) Behavioral Finance. Annu Rev Financ Econ 7:133–159. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-financial-092214-043752
Inglehart R, Norris P (2003) Rising tide: Gender equality and cultural change around the world. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
International Monetary Fund [IMF] African Department (2018) Nigeria: Selected Issues (Country Report No. 18/64). International Monetary Fund African Department. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2018/03/07/Nigeria-Selected-Issues-457006.
Iversen V (2003) Intra-household inequality: a challenge for the capability approach? Fem Econ 9:93–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/1354570032000080868
Jayachandra S (2015) The roots of gender inequality in developing countries. Ann Rev Econ 7:63–88. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-economics-080614-115404
Johnston LG, Sabin K, Mai TH, Pham TH (2006) Assessment of respondent-driven sampling for recruiting female sex workers in two Vietnamese cities: reaching the unseen sex worker. J Urban Health: Bull the New York Acad Med 83(6 Suppl):i16–i28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-006-9099-5
Kabeer N (2005) Gender equality and women’s empowerment: a critical analysis of the third millennium development goal. Gend Dev 13(1):13–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552070512331332273
Kaser K (2008) Patriarchy after patriarchy: gender relations in Turkey and in the Balkans, 1500–2000 (studies on south East Europe), vol. 7, Lit, Wien
Katz-Wise SL, Priess HA, Hyde JS (2010) Gender-role attitudes and behavior across the transition to parenthood. Dev Psychol 46(1):18–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017820
Kirchler E, Rodler C, Holzl E, Meier K (2001) Conflict and decision making in close relationships. The Psychology Press, Hove
Kishor S, Subaiya L (2008) Understanding Women’s Empowerment: A Comparative Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Data. DHS Comparative Reports No. 20. Calverton, MD: Macro International Inc.
Lamidi EO (2016) Multilevel Analysis of State Variations in Women's Participation in Household Decision-Making in Nigeria. Jet women's stud 17(1):186–201. http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol17/iss1/13
Lee CK, Beatty SE (2002) Family structure and influence in family decision making. J Consum Mark 19(1):24–41. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760210414934
Lee E, Kim SI, Jung-Choi K, Kong KA (2022) Household decision-making and the mental well-being of marriage-based immigrant women in South Korea. PLoS ONE 17(2):e0263642. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263642
Leigh AC, Reynolds TW, Gugerty MK (2017) Husband and wife perspectives on farm household decision-making authority and evidence on the intra-household accord in rural Tanzania. World Dev 90:169–183
Mayrl D, Uecker JE (2011) Higher education and religious liberalization among young adults. Soc Forces 90(1):181–208. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/90.1.181
Mazzotta F, Papaccio A, Parisi L (2019) Household management systems and women’s decision making within the family in Europe. Fem Econ 25(4):126–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2019.1658887
Mejiuni O (2013) Women and Power: Education, Religion, and Identity. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). Accessed August 7, 2021, from https://www.codesria.org/spip.php?article1777&lang==eng
Mikołajczak M, Pietrzak J (2014) Ambivalent sexism and religion: connected through values. Sex Roles 70(9):387–399. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-014-0379-3
Millett K (2000) Sexual politics, 6th edn. University of Illinois Press, Urbana
National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] and ICF International (2019) 2018 Nigeria DHS Key Findings. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF.
National Population Commission [Nigeria] and ICF International (2014) Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Rockville, Maryland, USA: National Population Commission and ICF International.
Oke OA (2009) The determinants of female autonomy and influence of fertility in Ibadan. Oyo State Gender Behav 7(1):2246–2261. https://doi.org/10.4314/gab.v7i1.45045
OlaOlorun FM, John, NA (2021) A couple-based gender-transformative intervention to enhance women's participation in household decision making: results from a cluster randomized control trial in Ibadan, Nigeria. Development in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1937564
Osamor P, Grady C (2018) Factors associated with women’s health care decision-making autonomy: empirical evidence from Nigeria. J Biosoc Sci 50(1):70–85. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932017000037
Oyediran K, Odusola A (2004)Poverty and the Dynamics of Women's Participation in Household Decision making in Nigeria. UNDP Africa Research Discussion Papers 267030, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.267030
Scanzoni J (1982) Sexual bargaining: power politics in the American marriage. University of Chicago, Chicago
Schieman S (2011) Education and the importance of religion in decision making: do other dimensions of religiousness matter? J Sci Study Relig 50(3):570–587. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5906.2011.01583
Schmeer KK (2005) Married women’s resource position and household food expenditures in Cebu, Philippines. J Marriage Fam 67:399–409
Schneebaum A, MaderK (2013) The Gendered Nature of Intra-Household Decision Making in and across Europe. Department of Economics Working Papers, wuwp157, Vienna: Vienna University of Economics and Business
Schwadel P (2011) The effects of education on Americans’ religious practices, beliefs, and affiliations. Rev Relig Res 53(2):161–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4
Sebany M, OlaOlorun F, John N (2020) Toward gender equity in the household: promoting women’s decision-making and empowerment in Ibadan, Nigeria. International Center for Research on Women, Washington, DC
Sen AK (2007) Children and human rights. Indian J Human Dev. https://doi.org/10.1177/0973703020070201
Seymour G, Peterman A (2018) Context and measurement: an analysis of the relationship between intrahousehold decision making and autonomy. World Dev 111:97–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.06.027
Soetan RO, Obiyan MO (2019) Socioeconomic differentials in employment status and involvement in household decision-making among ever-married women in Nigeria. Front Sociol 4:49. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2019.00049
Therborn G (2004) Between sex and power: family in the world, 1900–2000. Routledge, London
United Nations (2015) Sustainable Development Goals accessed at https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/ on October 1, 2021.
USAID (2017) Gender considerations for achieving nutrition outcomes through agriculture (Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy 2014–2025). Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Vaessen J, Rivas A, Duvendack M, Jones RP, Leeuw F, Van Gils G, Waddington H (2014) The effects of microcredit on women’s control over household spending in developing countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Campbell Syst Rev 10(1):1–205
Van Aelst K (2014). Household decision making and gender relations in Tanzania: Literature and theory review (IOB Working Papers 2014.02). Institute of Development Policy, Universiteit Antwerpen.
Van Gorp, K (2013) "The Second Shift: Why it is Diminishing but Still an Issue." The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research 14 (2013): 31–37. Accessed July 2, 2022, from https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/vol14/iss1/7.
Vaz A, Pratley P, Alkire S (2016) Measuring women’s autonomy in chad using the relative autonomy index. Fem Econ 22:264–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2015.1108991
Vogler C, Lyonette C, Wiggins RD (2008) Money, power and spending decisions in intimate relationships. The Sociol Rev 56(1):117–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2008.00779.x
Wolf, E. P. (1961). The Dynamics of Married Living [Review of Husbands and Wives, by R. O. Blood & D. M. Wolfe]. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly of Behavior and Development 7(4): 304–308. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23082614
World Food Programme [WFP] (2016). Gender equality and women’s empowerment (P4P Experiences in Systemic Change). Rome, Italy: World Food Programme (WFP).
Yamane T (1967) Statistics, An Introductory Analysis, 2nd edn. Harper and Row, New York
Zuo J (2017) Marital construction of family decision-making power. In: Zhao LX (ed) Zang X. Handbook on the family and marriage in China, Edward Elgar, pp 321–338
Funding
The author did not receive support from any organization for the current study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest relevant to the content of this article.
Ethical approval
The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Redeemer’s University Ethical Review Committee (REC/24/06/2022/RUN/R01). All ethical guidelines governing human research were followed. Respondents were informed of the study's anticipated outcomes and benefits. They were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of their responses, and they gave their consent to be included in the sample population.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wellington, O.A. Social norms or socioeconomic dynamics: determinants of gender-equal intra-household decision-making. SN Soc Sci 2, 245 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00547-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00547-w