Associations between women's retention in STEM or STEM-related fields and their spouses' occupations and majors

Women's labor force participation in the U.S. has significantly increased since the 1920s, yet a decline since 2000 has sparked debate surrounding work-family conflicts for professional women. The influence of marriage and family on women's careers, particularly in STEM and STEM-related fields, is increasingly recognized. While previous research has highlighted women's underrepresentation in STEM and the factors contributing to their departure from these fields (gender stereotypes, cultural norms, work-family conflicts), few studies have examined the role of spouses' occupations and majors, especially differentiating between STEM and STEM-related (healthcare) fields. This study addresses this gap by investigating whether having a spouse with a similar occupation or major positively influences a woman's retention in STEM or STEM-related occupations. The research question is: what is the relationship between spouses' STEM/STEM-related occupations/degrees and married women's retention in STEM/STEM-related occupations? The study also explores the moderating role of children in this relationship.

Existing literature reveals varied influences of marriage on women's careers. Some studies show a marriage premium for women's earnings, though less pronounced than for men. Others highlight constraints on career location decisions for married women with college degrees, negatively affecting their earnings. Research also explores spousal influence on occupational development, with some studies suggesting that husbands' careers can negatively impact wives' employment while others find positive effects on career attainment. Occupational similarity among spouses has been linked to informational support but not necessarily emotional support. Spousal support has been connected to career success, mediated by work-family balance. Previous research on women in STEM emphasizes their higher attrition rates compared to women in other fields and the difficulties they face returning after a career break. Work-family conflicts, particularly concerning pregnancy and childcare, are frequently cited as major challenges. While some studies show conflicts between STEM careers and romantic goals, others find that successful women in STEM tend to have supportive partners. The phenomenon of spousal homogamy, particularly in higher education and STEM, has also been noted in prior research.

This study utilizes data from the 2015-2019 waves of the American Community Survey (ACS). The initial sample included 159,290 women aged 25-55 with STEM or STEM-related bachelor's degrees. The main analysis focused on a subsample of 147,467 married women meeting specific criteria (college-educated spouse employed). STEM fields were defined as life and physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, information technology, and architecture, while STEM-related fields encompassed healthcare occupations. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable (women's employment in STEM/STEM-related occupations) and independent variables (spouse's STEM/STEM-related occupation and major). Control variables included census year, woman's age, race, birthplace, state of residence, educational level of both spouses, specific majors, spouse's sex, metropolitan area residence, number of children, and number of children under five. Separate analyses were conducted for STEM and healthcare subsamples, and additional models incorporated the presence of children and interaction terms. All analyses were performed using Stata statistical software.

The study's key findings demonstrate a positive association between a spouse's STEM or STEM-related occupation/major and a married woman's retention in a STEM or STEM-related occupation. Specifically: 1. **Marital Status:** Compared to never-married women, married women with a spouse in a STEM or STEM-related occupation were 1.24 times more likely to remain in STEM/STEM-related employment. 2. **Spouse's Occupation/Degree:** Women whose spouses had STEM or STEM-related occupations were 1.59-1.60 times more likely to remain in STEM/STEM-related employment than those whose spouses did not. The effect was slightly weaker but still positive for spouses with STEM/STEM-related degrees (1.18-1.20 times more likely). Higher spouse income and more weekly work hours were negatively associated with women's retention in STEM/STEM-related occupations. 3. **Employment Status:** While a spouse's STEM/STEM-related occupation was negatively associated with a woman's overall employment, the positive association remained significant for STEM/STEM-related employment. A spouse's STEM/STEM-related degree had no significant effect on a woman's overall employment status. 4. **STEM and Healthcare Subsamples:** The positive effect of a spouse's similar occupation was stronger in the subsample analyses for both STEM and healthcare. The effect of a spouse's similar degree was significant only in the healthcare subsample. 5. **Presence of Children:** Children's presence was a moderator, showing a negative association with women's retention in STEM/STEM-related fields, particularly when their spouses were in STEM/STEM-related occupations. However, controlling for this interaction only marginally strengthened the positive relationship between spousal STEM/STEM-related occupations and women's retention in STEM/STEM-related fields.

The findings support the hypothesis of a positive relationship between spousal occupational similarity and women's retention in STEM and STEM-related fields. The results align with the concept of spousal homogamy, suggesting that shared professional interests influence partner selection and marital stability among individuals in these fields. The stronger effects observed in the subsample analyses highlight the importance of considering STEM and healthcare fields separately. The moderating effect of children underscores the complex interplay between career aspirations and family responsibilities. While high-earning, long-working-hour spouses could negatively affect women's STEM retention, the consistent positive association with spousal STEM/STEM-related occupations suggests the dominance of other factors such as STEM-specific support and resources provided within the relationship.

This study demonstrates the significant positive influence of spouses' STEM or STEM-related occupations and majors on women's retention in these fields. This effect persists even when accounting for factors like income, working hours, and the presence of children. Future research could explore the specific mechanisms underlying this positive association (spousal support, homogamy) and examine whether similar patterns exist in other occupational sectors. Qualitative studies could offer deeper insights into the nature of spousal support in STEM/STEM-related couples.

Several limitations affect the generalizability and interpretation of the results. The study omitted information on the woman's salary and working hours, potentially introducing bias. The lack of detailed information on children's characteristics might have underestimated the positive effects of spouses' STEM/STEM-related occupations. The study did not directly measure spousal support, limiting the ability to fully explain the observed relationship. Additionally, the findings are limited to the context of STEM and STEM-related fields and may not generalize to other occupations.