Demographic

Older women and women with more children are more likely than other women to decide forthemselves how their earnings are spent. Rural women are somewhat more independent in making theirown decisions than urban women (67 percent and 61 percent, respectively). On the other hand, urbanwomen are somewhat more likely than rural women to report that they make decisions about how themoney they earn will be used jointly with their husband or partner. The percentage of women who makeindependent decisions on their earnings does not vary widely across regions. It ranges from 61 percent inHhohho to 69 percent in Shiselweni. Women in Hhohho are most likely to decide jointly with theirhusband or partner on how to spend the money they earn.It is interesting to note that better educated women and women who live in households in thehigher wealth quintiles are more likely to say that decisions on use of their earnings are shared with theirhusbands. For example, while 34 percent of women with tertiary education decide jointly with theirhusband or partner how their earnings are used, the proportion among women with no education is 27percent.Table 16.2.1 also shows the women’s perception of the magnitude of their earnings relative tothose of their husband or partner by background characteristics. Sixty-eight percent of women report thattheir cash earnings are less than their husband’s, 12 percent say that their earnings are more than theirhusband’s, and 4 percent say that their earnings match their husband’s. In addition, 12 percent of womensay that their husband has no cash earnings. The data show that women with more children, those wholive in rural areas, women with less education, and women in households in the lowest wealth quintilesare more likely to say that their husband does not earn cash income.16.1.2 Control over Husband’s EarningsTable 16.2.2 shows women’s and men’s answers to questions about who decides how men’s cashearnings are spent, by background characteristics. Overall, almost half (48 percent) of women say thatthese decisions are mainly made by their husbands, 38 percent say they make the decisions jointly withtheir husband, and 11 percent say that they are the main decisionmaker regarding their husband’s income.The background characteristics of the women do not show a clear pattern regarding who makesdecisions on the husband’s earnings. However, the proportion of women who report joint decisionmakingregarding their husband’s earnings decreases with age and number of children. Women in Hhohho aremost likely and women in Shiselweni are least likely to decide jointly with their husband or partner howto spend the money the husband earns. Table 16.2.2 also shows that women in households in the lowestwealth quintile are more likely to say that the use of their husband’s earnings is decided by the husbandand the least likely to say that the decision is made jointly. Women in the highest wealth quintile have theopposite pattern: they are more likely to say that the decision on the use of their husband’s earnings ismade jointly and the least likely to say that the decision is made mainly by the husband.Table 16.2.2 also shows the husband’s perspective on who makes decisions about the men’searnings. In general, 56 percent of men say that decisions are mainly made jointly with their wives, 37percent say they make the decisions, and 6 percent say that their wives are the main decisionmakerregarding their income. As in the case of married women, the background characteristics of married menshow no clear pattern regarding who makes decisions about their earnings.246 | Women’s Empowerment and Demographic and Health Outcomes