Husband as Head?: Diverse Perspectives on Gendered Marital Hierarchy From Highly Religious Wives and Husbands

Abstract

Although religious beliefs often connect with gendered hierarchy in social science research, religion also relates to numerous positive marital outcomes, and very few studies have examined religion and gendered hierarchy within intimate relationships. To bridge this divide, our study used a diverse, exemplar sample to explore how highly religious, heterosexual married couples view and navigate the possibility of gendered hierarchy. Interviews from 74 highly religious, highly satisfied couples provided insight into the following themes: (1) potential harm in viewing hierarchy as sacred, (2) the correct view of sacred hierarchy, (3) hierarchy rejected for sacred equal partnership, and (4) holding hierarchy as sacred. Views simultaneously embracing egalitarian and hierarchical ideas indicate some nuance regarding the construct of gendered hierarchy. Data drawn directly from interviews provide detailed support in the paper for each finding. For participants who accepted the principle of gendered hierarchy, devotion to God and belief in sacred roles appeared as partial explanations for that belief. Whether participants accepted gendered hierarchy or rejected it, unity, love, and respect between partners emerged as central to navigating power dynamics in marriage. Implications for clinicians include careful assessment for indications of abuse of power or intimate partner violence, entering the worldview of religious clients, and willingness to respect expectations viewed as sacred.