Men, women differ over whether mothers with young children should work outside the home

October 02, 2009

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has found that fathers are significantly more likely than mothers to believe that it is better for young children when mothers stay at home.

When asked “Moms, kids, and jobs-- what’s ideal for young children?”

12% of mothers, and 11% of fathers, responded “mother works full time”

49% of mothers, and 32% of fathers, responded “mother works part time”

36% of mothers, and 54% of fathers, responded “mother doesn’t work outside the home"

When asked “Moms, kids, and jobs-- what’s ideal for mothers with young children?”

12% of mothers, and 18% of fathers, responded “mother works full time”

44% of mothers, and 36% of fathers, responded “mother works part time”

39% of mothers, and 41% of fathers, responded “mother doesn’t work outside the home"

The new survey was part of a Pew Center analysis of decades’ worth of surveys on working mothers. According to the most recent survey on daycare, 72% of Americans believe that too many children are in daycare-- a higher figure than 1988.

 

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Further information:

• The Harried Life of the Working Mother (Pew Research Center)