This study, based on a survey of Milwaukee area adults, assigns the occupation of housewife a NORC prestige score of 70, one in the middle prestige range. Men and older raters evaluate it higher; working women and younger raters evaluate it lower. Housewife's social standing varies according to husband's occupation. (Author)

Participants in this study were couples representing three employment groups. The first, mono-employed, consisted of couples with an employed husband and a wife who was at home full time. The dual employed group comprised an employed husband and wife, and the third group were employed husbands and wives both of whom had doctoral degrees.…