Which statement reflects inequality for women in Oakley’s view?

• A. Men have no economic power
• B. Women's dependence on men's wages
• C. Women have higher wages than men
• D. There is no increase in dual-worker families

Answer: (B)

Inequality for women, in Oakley’s view, comes from their economic dependency on men because the family division of labour places the main breadwinner role with men while women do much of the unpaid domestic and caregiving work. This arrangement means women's financial security and independence are tied to their husbands’ wages, which limits their bargaining power both inside the home and in wider society.

That’s why the statement about women’s dependence on men's wages fits her view best. The other statements don’t align with her analysis: she wouldn’t argue that men have no economic power, nor that women earn more than men, and she would recognise that more families have two working parents rather than there being no increase in dual-earner households.