Malawi 2015-16

husbands while smaller proportions of women report sole decision making power (28%) or that their
husbands control such decisions (24%) (Figure 16.2 and Table 16.2.1).
The majority of women (70%) earn less than their
husbands, and 14% earn about the same amount.
Trends: Women’s involvement in decisions about
their earnings has increased over time; 58% had a
role in decision making in 2010 compared with 76%
in 2015-16. Husbands were the decision maker for
40% of women in 2010 compared with 24% in 2015-
16. There is no noticeable change in the magnitude
of women’s earnings relative to their husband’s.
Patterns by background characteristics
• Younger women, women without higher than
secondary school education, and women in the
lower wealth quintiles are least likely to have
control over their earnings. For these women,
husbands are more likely to be the sole decision maker (Table 16.2.1).
16.3 CONTROL OVER MEN’S EARNINGS
Figure 16.2 Control over woman’s
earnings
Percent distribution of currently married
women with cash earnings in the
12 months before the survey
Wife and
husband
jointly
47%
Mainly
husband
24%
Mainly wife
28%
Control over one’s own cash earnings (men)
Respondents are considered to have control over their own earnings if they
participate in decisions alone or jointly with their wives about how their own
earnings will be used.
Sample: Currently married men age 15-49 who received cash earnings for
employment during the 12 months before the survey
Men’s and women’s reports differ on control over men’s cash earnings with fewer men than women
claiming to control the husband’s earnings. Specifically, 36% of men report that they exclusively control
their earnings compared with 44% of women who report that the husband controls his earnings. Fiftyseven
percent of men report that they jointly decide the use of their cash earnings with their wives while
48% of women report joint decision making in use of their husband’s earnings (Table 16.2.2).
Trends: There is a 13-percentage point decrease between men’s 2010 and 2015-16 reporting of control of
their earnings. In 2010, 49% of the men reported that they individually decide on their earnings compared
with 36% in the 2015-16 MDHS. Likewise, the percentage of women reporting that the husband has sole
control over his cash earnings decreased from 68% in the 2010 MDHS to 44% in the current MDHS.
Patterns by background characteristics
• Lower levels of education and wealth among both men and women are associated with greater chances
that the husband will have sole control of his cash earnings. For example, 35% of men with no
education have such authority versus 22% among those with more than a secondary education.
Similarly, 51% of women with no education report the husband is the main decider compared with
18% of women with more than secondary education.
• Among both men and women, rural residence was also associated with the husband having greater
control over his earnings. For 38% of men and 47% of women in rural areas, the husband decides
independently how his earnings will be used compared with 28% of men and 31% of women in urban
areas.
Women’s Empowerment • 253