Belying the image of the “liberated” working mother, a recent National Review Online commentary cites research by Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, showing that, for the vast majority married moms, the workplace is not the top choice of where they want to spend their days.
In reviewing data from the 2000 National Survey of Marriage and Family Life, Wilcox found that only 18 percent of married women with children said they would prefer to work full-time, in contrast to 46 percent who would prefer to work part-time and 36 percent who said that they would prefer to stay at home. In addition, among married moms who were working full-time, nearly 75 percent said they would rather work fewer hours or not at all.
A bevy of sociological studies show that the mother’s intuition regarding what is best for her children is on the mark. Research throughout the last two decades reveals that children who attend day care centers are more likely to exhibit problem behavior and poor social skills than those being cared for by their parents. Furthermore, the children’s problem behavior is more pronounced the younger they are when they enter day care and the more hours they spend in center care each week.
The association between hours in day care and behavioral problems is prevalent regardless of socioeconomic status. And, sadly, the effects of time spent in day care centers can be long-term, with problem behavior extending even to middle-school years.
Research also indicates that the link between day care center attendance and problem behavior might be traced to an insecure mother–child attachment associated with extended hours in non-maternal care.
In addition to these socio-emotional difficulties are the health risks and propensity to infections and illness that numerous studies have found to be associated with day care center attendance.
In sum, years of research underscore the importance of mothers’ instinctive desire to be with their children: Mother’s intuition trumps the feminist icon. Taxpayers and policymakers should work to promote policies that would enable moms to make the choice to stay at home and care for their children.
It's too bad the economy wasn't strong enough for us to make that decision without the need of government.
This is a really good article. It's funny how in an attempt to "liberate" women, they actually promote what is not in the best interest of those women.
Returning to a proper emphasis on the family–seeing family as the highest of priorities–is the first step to viewing "homemaker" or other non-full-time occupations as respected occupations in our society. Check out http://www.parentalrights.org if you are interested in reversing the trend and returning to a solid view of family.
It is truly sad that this nation's economy makes it very difficult for a family to get by without a mother and father both working to support a family.
I believe that society benefits when a child is raised by a mother and a father, not a village. I believe that each plays a necessary role in a child's development. A father cannot fill the role of a mother, nor can a mother fill the role of a a father.
All too often, fathers leave and the responsibility of raising children falls to a mother. Women who shoulder such responsibilities are truly heroines and males (I won't call them men) who walk out on their children, leaving the responsibility of raising a child or children to their mother are beneath contempt.
To all those women who chose a career of raising, teaching, instilling values and comforting their children you are society's heroines. I salute you. Both I, and my children, were so very fortunate to have had mothers that made this choice.
And to all those women who work to support a family and still make the time to devote to your children's growth and well being, you are exceptional heroines.
I was very fortunate to be able to be with my daughter most of the time. My child was born in 1973 and things were a little easier then. My daughter is now 36 and has never given me an ounce of trouble or worry. She has been a total joy and no job I've ever had can compare to those years.
I feel sad for the young mothers I work with now.
I never understood why women would feel like they are not doing anything of value if they aren't out working. No one can take a mother's place. God gave us the most important job of all.
For most people the choice to have the Mom stay at home is much easier then many people realize.
It basically starts with giving up on things that are really not all that important in the big scheme. Start with a smaller house, an older car, you probably only need one car anyway, eating at home instead of take out, avoid the toys, and then keep going on that tangent until you are down to one income. In addition, by having Mom stay at home you can save a pile of money in all kinds of ways you might not have expected.
I am not saying that it is easy, it will require sacrifice, but it is always worth it.