…one spouse’s job or career taking precedence over the other’s…” (Winkler and Rose 2000)
“Career hierarchy can arise from neutral causes, as when couples make decisions based on the greatest net household benefit, but one spouse’s career advancement happens to produce better joint outcomes. Career hierarchy can also arise from career prioritizing, when one or both spouses give greater priority to one spouse’s career outcomes in decision-making.” (Pixley; Pixley & Moen, 2003)
As defined by Winkler, A. E., & Rose, D. C. (2000). Career Hierarchy in Dual-Earner Families. In S. Polachek (Ed.), Research in Labor Economics (Vol. 19, pp. 147-172). Greenwich CT: JAI Press.
As defined by Pixley in "Career-Prioritizing in Dual-Earner Couples" in the Sloan Work-Family Encyclopedia; see also Pixley, J. E., & Moen, P. (2003). Prioritizing Careers. In P. Moen (Ed.), It's About Time: Couples and Careers (pp. 183-200). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.