C 01 - Role Attitudes Toward Husband's Work

Chapter III Role Attitudes Toward Her Husband’s Work

MINISTERS’ WIVES expect and are expected to participate, to a greater or lesser degree, in their husbands’ work. At this point, their role is rather unique. In marrying, they marry more than a man. They also become a part of a role with a long tradition the ministry. This role not only has expectations of their pastor-husbands but also has its ideas as to what they themselves should do or be, or not do or be. In matters of religion they may be expected to be ** experts.” Or, as one wife relates, when the church doors are open, she is expected to be there even if she has a broken leg in a cast! Needless to say, a constellation of attitudes revolve around these expectations.

It is the purpose of this chapter to explore some of these attitudes expressed by wives toward their husbands* work.

Attention will be devoted first to their feelings about sharing in this work.and the manner in which they participate.

Secondly, certain specific attitudes arising out of the work, such as loneliness and family time, will be explored.