…and the implications of ‘I do’

CAN WOMEN HAVE IT ALL?CAN WOMEN HAVE IT ALL?

Women “pushing” into the workplaceLean In:

Success and satisfaction at work and home

Having it all:

Does Jay Z’s personality influence Beyoncé's ability to have it all?

Satisfaction

Work Success

Home Success

What is the Big 5?

Methods

• GSEOP, ~ 2,200 individuals longitudinally• 2005 personality assessment determine

concurrent outcomes or predict outcomes four years later

2005 2009

P P

Life Outcomes Life Outcomes

Figure 1. Structural equation model predicting husband and wife outcomes.

Caption: Structural equation model predicting husband and wife outcomes from husband and wife personality characteristics. Within this manuscript, only the impacts of husband and wife personality on wife outcomes are reported, as the focus is on her.

Results

• Husband’s personality did predict specific outcomes within work domain and wife’s satisfaction– The consistent and unexpected predictor was

husband’s openness to new experiences

Why might this be?

Open Spouse: more intellectual, emulation effect

Home Outcomes?

Satisfaction• Spouse’s personality is likely to affect wife’s

satisfaction once she has it all

Husband extroversion matters more for women who have it all

Spouse Extroversion

yes

no

Does She “Have It All”?Satis

facti

on

Husband conscientiousness matters more for women who have it all

Spouse Conscientiousness

Satis

facti

on

yes

no

Does She “Have It All”?

Husband openness impacts life satisfaction positively for women who focus on one domain and negatively for women who have it all

Satis

facti

on

Spouse Openness

yesno

Does She “Have It All”?

Does Jay Z’s personality influence Beyoncé's ability to have it all?

Satisfaction

Openness

Conscientiousness ExtraversionOpenness

Work Success

Implications

• Openness is significant in relationships (+, -)

• Spousal conscientiousness and neuroticism may be more neutral than previously thought

Conclusion

1. If a woman wants to be successful at work, her husband’s personality has an impact

2. If a woman wants to be happy while having it all, her partner’s personality matters

3. For women: finding the right spouse may aid fight for gender equality

Thank you!

For questions…

Measures

• Personality (2005): – Am communicative, often worry, work carefully, am nervous, personal

impulsiveness (scale 1-7)• Work (2005, 2009):

– Hours/week– Prestige (Trieman Standard Int Occupation Prestige Scale)– Gross Income

• Home (2005, 2009):– Number of hours per week spent on childcare (ratio scale)– Children under 16

• Satisfaction (2005, 2009): – Satisfaction with work (scale 0-10)– Satisfaction with housework (scale 0-10)– Satisfaction with life today (scale 0-10)

Extra Variables

• Education• Age

Concurrent Work Outcome Results Husband’s Personality

Future Work Outcome Results Husband’s Personality

Concurrent Home Outcome ResultsSpouse’s Personality

Future Home Outcome ResultsSpouse’s Personality

Concurrent Work Outcome Results Wife’s Personality

Future Work Outcome Results Wife’s Personality

Concurrent Home Outcome ResultsWife’s Personality

Future Home Outcome ResultsWife’s Personality

Concurrent Satisfaction

-Spousal Neuroticism

Future Satisfaction

-Spousal Neuroticism-Spousal Agreeableness

Prediction

• Husband’s level of conscientiousness will be positively associated with woman’s ability to have it all

• Husband’s level of neuroticism will be negatively associated with woman’s ability to have it all

• Agreeableness will be associated with woman’s satisfaction and success at home, but not at work