This study aims to investigate the effect of marriage on women’s earnings. Using Current Population Survey (CPS) 2010 data, three sets of hypotheses are tested to address the effect of individual level factors, structure level factors and gender/race factors. The results suggest that education, experience, level of occupation, and size of business, among others, are the important factors explaining earnings inequality among women. Marriage has a significant effect on women’s earnings and married women have consistently higher income than unmarried women. Some interesting and striking results of this study hold significant sociological and policy importance.

Thesis (M.A.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Sociology