To test the economic theory of job search and the rationality of job search behavior by unemployed married women, the importance of reservation wages (or wages requested for employment) was studied for its effect on the duration of unemployment and its relationship to the subsequent rate of pay upon reemployment. Models were established to explain these two interactions, and were supported by analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of women aged 35 to 49 in 1972 who met the study criteria of being married, unemployed but with recent work experience, and then reemployed. It was concluded that (1) women with higher reservation wages experience a longer period of unemployment but are rewarded with higher paying jobs; (2) women who lost their jobs are unemployed longer than those who left their jobs voluntarily; (3) racial differences do not influence the length of unemployment when adjustment is made for the asking and offered wages for black women; (4) the duration of unemployment of married women is affected by overall economic conditions and the local labor market; and (5) married women would benefit from investing more time in job search by receiving higher wages. Married women appeared to reenter employment so quickly because of their aversion to risk, their experience of financial-capital constraints which preclude extended job search, and their expectation of short tenure at their new jobs. (ELG)