Employment of male spouses of female service members in the United States military (i.e., civilian husbands of servicewomen) is frequently affected when they geographically relocate due to their wives' military service. Because of persisting societal norms for husbands as primary breadwinners in marriages and the majority of military couples being comprised of male service members married to female civilian spouses, civilian husbands of servicewomen may experience a gender role reversal in their identity as a spouse and as a provider within their relationships and military culture. This qualitative study examined the experiences of civilian husbands of servicewomen in their positions as tied-migrant workers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 civilian husbands who experienced at least one geographic relocation due to their wife's military service. Descriptive phenomenological analysis was used to discover the essence of participants' experiences. Themes around defining masculinity, being a minority in the military, and being a non-traditional gender provider in a tied-migrant worker role emerged. Participants expanded their masculine identities to include performing traditionally feminine tasks as well as placing value on egalitarianism in their spousal relationships when they experience barriers to breadwinning. Limitations (e.g., predominantly White and exclusively heterosexual sample, potential biases in recruitment and analysis, no explicit exploration of how gender role reversal and mental health intersect) and directions for future research to resolve limitations and expand on the current study are presented. Clinical recommendations for psychotherapists are provided with an emphasis on using emotionally focused therapy with couples consisting of civilian husbands and servicewomen. / Master of Science / Civilian men who are married to women serving in the United States military (i.e., civilian husbands of servicewomen) often have disruptions or challenges with their employment when they move to a new place because of their wives' military service. Because men are often expected to be main financial providers for their families (i.e., breadwinners) and civilian husbands' difficulties with employment, as well as the majority of military marriages being between servicemen and civilian wives, civilian husbands may feel they are in a gender role reversal both in their relationships and military communities. This qualitative study examined the experiences of civilian husbands of female service members by interviewing 22 men who moved at least once due to their wife's military service. Descriptive phenomenological analysis was used to discover themes of defining masculinity, being a minority in the military, and being in a tied-migrant worker role. Participants expanded their masculinity to include traditionally feminine tasks and placing value on being equitable in their marriages when faced with challenges to breadwinning. Study limitations regarding demographics and potential biases in recruitment and analysis are discussed, and directions for future research to resolve limitations and expand on the current study are given. Clinical recommendations for psychotherapists are described, especially recommendations for using emotionally focused therapy with couples of civilian husbands and servicewomen.

Since the industrialization, the role of breadwinning has been part of the male gender identity. Even though it today has become more common with female breadwinners, the previous assumption of the man as a breadwinner is still a norm in society. This study examines what this norm breaking means for women and their relationships with their men. The purpose is to study Swedish women's experiences of being a breadwinner, how it affects the relationship and the roles one has in a relationship. Previous research has mainly been focused on objective financial aspects of female breadwinning but there is a lack of women's subjective experiences. This study is based on qualitative interviews with seven Swedish female breadwinners. The study shows that education is fundamental to explaining their role as female breadwinner. It also shows that the women's personal traits and good relationships with their men explains their experiences of being a female breadwinner. / Rollen som familjeförsörjare har sedan industrialiseringen varit en del av den manliga könsidentiteten. Trots att det idag blivit vanligare med kvinnliga familjeförsörjare, är den tidigare föreställningen om mannen som försörjare fortsatt en norm i samhället. I denna studie undersöks vad denna normbrytning betyder för kvinnorna och deras relationer till sina män. Syftet är att studera svenska kvinnors upplevelser av att vara familjeförsörjare, hur det påverkar relationen och de roller man har i en relation. Tidigare forskning har i hög grad fokuserat på objektiva finansiella aspekter av kvinnlig familjeförsörjning där det finns en avsaknad av kvinnors subjektiva upplevelser. Den här studien är baserad på kvalitativa intervjuer med sju svenska kvinnliga familjeförsörjare. Studien visar att utbildning är grundläggande för att förklara deras roll som familjeförsörjare. Studien visar också att kvinnornas personliga egenskaper och goda relationer till sina män förklarar deras upplevelser av att vara familjeförsörjare.

According to the traditional gender structures the man is seen as the breadwinner and the woman as the housewife. These traditional patterns are slowly being replaced by more equal relationships and today, women are a natural part of the workforce. It is becoming increasingly common nowadays for women in relationships to have a higher income than their partners. Previous research from the United States points out that the connection between the role as family provider and masculinity is still up to date. In this study the man’s experiences about not being the breadwinner is accordingly investigated. Questions about the division of labour in the home, equality in the relationship and how the man experiences the change of the traditional gender structures is in focus. This qualitative study finds its result based on six swedish male respondents experiences concerning not being the main wage earners. The result of the study indicate that these men is actively striving towards an equal daily life as it seems to be the ideal in Sweden. The interviewed men describe that they do not attach significant importance regarding them not being the breadwinner, but shades of strategies that are used to maintain parts of the traditional masculinity can however be interpreted. Keywords: / Enligt de traditionella könsstrukturerna så ses mannen som familjeförsörjaren och kvinnan ses som hemmafrun. Dessa traditionella mönster ersätts sakta men säkert av mer jämställda relationer och idag är kvinnor en naturlig del av arbetskraften. Det blir numer allt vanligare att kvinnan i relationer har en högre inkomst än sin partner. Tidigare forskning från USA poängterar att kopplingen mellan rollen som familjeförsörjare och manlighet fortfarande är aktuell. I denna studie undersöks därmed mannens upplevelser av att inte vara den huvudsakliga inkomsttagaren. Frågor gällande arbetsfördelningen i hemmet, jämställdhet i relationen och hur mannen upplever förändringen av de traditionella könsstrukturerna står i centrum. Denna kvalitativa studie finner sitt resultat baserat på sex svenska manliga intervjupersoners upplevelser angående att inte vara den huvudsakliga inkomsttagaren. Studiens resultat tyder på att dessa män aktivt strävar efter att leva ett jämställt vardagsliv då det tycks vara idealet i Sverige. De intervjuade männen beskriver att de inte fäster någon större betydelse vid att de inte är huvudinkomsttagaren, däremot kan nyanser uttydas av att strategier trots allt används för att bibehålla delar av den traditionella manligheten.