Relationship between Gender Role Orientation and Marital Conflict among Higher and Lower Income Couples in Nairobi County

This study examined the relationship between gender role orientation and marital conflict among lower (Marurui Estate) and higher income (Garden Estate) couples in Nairobi County. Specifically, the study sought to: establish the nature of gender role orientations among lower income and higher income couples in Nairobi County, determine the effects of gender role orientations on division of labor among lower income and higher income couples in Nairobi County and evaluate which gender role orientation is associated more with conflicts among lower income and higher income couples in Nairobi County. Studies in the west have revealed a connection between different gender role orientations and marital conflict (Bikketi et al., 2016), but no such studies have been done in Kenya. A quantitative (correlational) research design was used in the study. Questionnaires were administered to 372 respondent’s living in Garden and Marurui Estates. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data collected. Findings revealed that higher income couples hold more egalitarian gender role orientation ideologies than lower income couples. Higher income couples had more equal division of labor as compared to the lower income couples. The study also found that lower income couples with different gender role orientations had more conflict than those with similar gender role orientations and higher income couples with similar gender role orientations had more conflict than those with different gender role orientations; a finding contrary to the literature in the west. Further research could use random sampling as well as cover other comparable residential areas to improve on the generalizability of the study.