Millainen mies on menestyvän naisen takana?

The spouse of the female manager: role and influence on the woman's career

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the role of the spouse, specifically the husband, for the woman manager's career by focusing on the gender role construction between spouses, and the relationship of these roles to the woman's career.Design/methodology/approachThe topic was investigated within a Finnish context by analyzing the narratives of 29 female managers. A common feature among the women was their managerial position and extensive work experience. All the women had or had had one or more spouses in the course of their careers, and all but one were mothers, mostly of teenage or adult children.FindingsA typology distinguishing five types of spouses was constructed: determining, supporti…