The economic dependence of women

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IFI{E ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE

OF I^IOI-IEN

by

SYLVIA ^VTERNICKE

A thesis submitted to the Eaculty ^of

f or the Degree of Master of Arts ^(Vlomen's Arts

Studie s )

Department of lrlomen's Studies UniversitY of ^Adelaide

November ¹⁹⁹⁵

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corr.ÈeraÈs¡

Ab s tract

De c laraÈi ^on

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Revíew of the Iiterature

Understanding the roles of ^vùomen

How thís studY was conducted Interview findings and analYsis

Conc 1u s ion

Note s

B ibI iography Appendix

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This thesis is about vtomen's experience of ^economic dependence on a husband or on a state payment. Ït explores the attitudes and feelings that a small ^group

of AdeIaÍde women have toward their osrn ^economic dependence. Does their economic dependence cause ^them to feel dependent in extended ^waYs?

This exploration highlights bot,h social and economic

advantages and disadvant.ages as a result of economic

( in ) dependence, and it, uncovers ^somecomplexÍtÍes ^and contradictions inherent in the concept 'dependence' ,

suggesting a ^needto rethink this ^concept.

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Decaara.Èíorr

This work contains no naterial which has been ^accepted for Èhe award of any other degree or diplona at ^any otheruniversityort,ertiaryinstitutionand,tothe

best of my rnoriledge and belief, contains no materíaI previouslypublishedorwritÈenbyanotherpersoneXcept

"h"t" ^duereference is ^nadein the text'

I give

^consent

to t'his

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in the UniversitY LibrarY'

photocoPYing.

of my thesis, when dePosÍted being available for loan ^and

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The !{omen who so readity agreed to spend ^someof their time vrith ne made this project possible. I thank them

for thàt,, and for having shared personal aspects ^of their lives with ^me.

The staf f of the ^lrlomen's St,udie s Department of ^the University of AdelaÍde, !ùltose guidance I have ^valued over the past few years, started ne on a journey I ^was originally unavrare I was on. I t,hank them sincerely ^for having sent me on that endless journey, with all its ^ups

and downs, and for helping ^mealong the way.

Special thanks go to Suzanna Schech. ^She difficult task of guiding my wanderings thoroughness and honesty I respect.

had the with ^a

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