ABSTRACT
Members of dual-career couples may identify with what it is like either to be the “bigger, more massive body” or the “smaller body” that has to “careen all over the place”. Issues of wage potential and power combined with timing and circumstances determine the extent to which we are the “bigger” or “smaller” member of the couple. Dual-career couples in higher education have probably existed since women began working at colleges and universities. Dual-career couples represent a growing trend in all work sectors. According to data from the US Census, in the year 2000, dual-earner married couples represented 37% of all households in the United States. In an environment in which dual-career couples are so prevalent it should come as no surprise that employment sectors that are concerned about recruitment and retention of the best employees are also concerned about the needs of dual-career couples.
