THE THEORY TRACES OUT THE KNOWN AND THEORETICAL CONSEQUENCES OF WIFE EMPLOYMENT AND SEEKS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF WIFE EMPLOYMENT IS AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF HUSBAND-WIFE CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE. THE THEORY BEGINS WITH THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE WIFE AND HOW THIS LEADS TO AN ATTEMPTED TRANSITION TOWARD AN EQUALITARIAN AUTHORITY STRUCTURE WITHIN THE MARRIAGE. THIS TRANSITION IS SEEN AS DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY FOR HUSBANDS. FOUR VARIABLES WHICH INFLUENCE THE HUSBANDS ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF THE EQUALITARIAN AUTHORITY STRUCTURE ARE IDENTIFIED: COMPULSIVE MASCULINITY, ANTICIPATORY SOCIALIZATION, ROLE CLARITY, AND CONGRUENCE WITH THE HUSBAND'S OTHER GOALS. THE LIKELIHOOD OF HUSBAND-WIFE VIOLENCE IS SEEN AS DEPENDENT UPON THE HUSBAND ACCEPTING THE NEW AUTHORITY STRUCTURE. THE THEORY IS SUMMARIZED IN PROPOSITIONAL AND FLOW CHART FORM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)