Domestic Affairs and Network Relations

We examine how spouses and community members provide social support: companionship, emotional aid and services for dealing with domestic situations. Torontonians engage their networks from their homes; there is no Bottian tendency for networks to lure people away from their spouses. Spouses exchange a wide range of support, but most community members provide specialized support. We develop a typology based on the extent of support that people receive from spouses and networks. Networkers, with much spousal and network support, tend to be in their thirties, parents of preschoolers, with wives who are home much of the time, have larger networks and more contact with network members. Householders, with spousal support but little network support, tend to be in their forties, with both spouses doing paid work, have the smallest networks and do not have much contact with the members of their small networks. Self-Reliants, getting little support from spouses and networks, tend to have no children living at home, small networks and little contact with network members.