With the state of economy and job losses, some men are in the position of earning less than their wives or female partners.  This is a cultural turn around that have men compensating in other ways to make up for the role traditionally held by them as the bread winner.  The term house husband does not quite fit because even though the husband may compensate in other ways, keeping the house tidy is not the primary route.

Most men who are married or in a relationship with a woman who earns more, thinks that creativity in the bedroom places him back somewhat in a leadership role.  Since the woman is out making a living for the family, the husband who may be unemployed uses bedroom antics to equalize the relationship, somewhat.  The woman who is knowledgeable of the man's traditional role results to doing some of the household chores and is susceptible to feeling a little uneasy about the role reversals.  She tries to let her partner know that he is important to her regardless of who has the bigger paycheck. 

When a woman earns more than her husband or partner in the relationship, there is an added stress level of the role reversal because more often than not the man is going to either be happy with the situation or beligerent.  A man must be secure with himself and not concerned with traditional roles of men as the breadwinner if a relationship of the role reversal is to be maintained.  Instead of just settling into the new role. the couple should talk about the situation and the woman should tell the man in the relationship that "money is just a thing" and has nothing to do with her feelings for him.  The man needs to be reassured that her love for him does not depend on how much he contributes to the family income.

In most instances, the man will keep the house tidy, make sure that the kids are well-groomed and at school on time everyday, and please his wife or partner in the bedroom as his job in the household.  If there are negative feelings about the reversal situation from either partner, a marriage counselor should be consulted.  Men have deep rooted notions about their place in the family.  If uprooted from their place because of joblessness, help may be needed by a trained family counselor to save the relationship.  As with any change in a relationship, the results of the role reversal or the perceived status of power in the relationship may cause problems dependant upon the personalities involved.  The household must remain operable so the woman should by  no means quit her job because of a power struggle, alternative and compromises must be sought to sustain the relationship.  A marriage counselor or a family counselor can help in this regard.