Genderequality settles in at home, but not in certain jobs

— -- Women have the upper hand at home, a new PewResearch Center study suggests. But is it because the house and children alwayshave been women's territory, or is gender equality making its way into thefamily household?

The answer is as mixed as the data,experts say.

Of 1,260 individuals surveyed in four areas ofdecision-making in the typical American home, women had the final say in 43% ofcouples — almost twice that of men. Yet 31% of couplesvolunteered the information that they share in the decision-making, a responsethat wasn't even listed on the survey.

Sociologist and gender studies expertMichael Kimmel of Stony Brook University-New York says the responses suggestthe path for couples is "far grayer" these days as couples weave in moreequality.

"There's far more fluidity in family decision-making aroundthese topics than ever before, and that's the real news," he says. "Sometimesshe makes the plans, sometimes he does. It's who has the sparetime."

Kimmel offers three ways to interpret the findings: "One is 'Only43% of women make most of the decisions.' Another way is 'Couples are in theirhomes navigating and negotiating equality far more than ever before.' A thirdway to read it is 'In both very traditional couples and in very egalitariancouples, women's sphere of influence has always been the family purse. She paysthe bills, decides which dinner parties they go to. He goes along with familyprojects.' "

Women hold purse strings

Tiffany Winbush,26, of Manhattan has been married for 16 months after dating her husband almostfour years. She says she manages the family's finances because she has alwaysbeen more budget-conscious.

"I balance my checkbook every day, and myhusband is a little bit more free," she says. "I decided to take the initiativewhen the bills came in."

That move was fine with her husband, 25-year-oldAmos Winbush III.

"I never had a great interest in it, and it's tediousto go through the bills … she likes doing that sort of thing. Icompletely relinquished all of that to her," he says. "We go over bills whenshe's paying the bills."