Effect of Working Mothers on the Family - Essay Example

Effect of Working Mothers on the Family The family structure can be accurately described as a social unit designed primarily to nurture the needs of children. When the mother, whose historic role in society is the nurturer within the family unit, enters the workforce, the dynamics within that structure changes, some would argue for the worse though others would disagree. Three year-old Sally’s mom went to work following a divorce and now she attends the local daycare from early morning until evening. Sally’s three year-old neighbor Billy remains at home all day with his stay-at-home mom. Some believe Sally is at the disadvantage because her early childhood is unstable, her formative years spent being one of the herd instead of being ‘properly’ cared for in a loving home environment. Sally will soon contract the dreaded ‘latch-key’ disease, become involved with drugs and sex at an early age and will end up homeless and miserable as an adult. Bill, on the other hand, will likely finish college and lead a happy, healthy, ‘normal’ life with a house in the suburbs, a loving wife, a dog and 2.2 children. This scenario fits the perception of some regarding working mothers and the resulting effects on the family. The evidence, however, refutes this erroneous assumption. The days when Mrs. Cleaver represented the norm has been gone for almost as long as that television show. Since that time, American families have increasingly needed two incomes to survive. For the vast majority of mothers, going to work every day while leaving their children with surrogate moms is clearly not a matter of choice as some have suggested. Today, more than a quarter of all American kids reside in homes containing one parent, usually the mother, who must work to support the family. Of the women who work in two-parent homes, more than 80 percent have spouses who receive $30,000 per year or less. A mother’s choice in many cases is to either allow their children to live in abject poverty or to go to work. Though among the minority, some working mothers have chosen to continue their career pursuits following childbirth but in either case, the workplace is seldom conducive to the family concerns of mothers, or fathers for that matter. Seldom do employers allow a mother to take a year or two off to care for small children without sacrificing position or employment status and are generally upset when mom is often called away to attend matters concerning a child. The choices are hard for mothers. The unsympathetic attitudes towards working mothers among both some factions of the public and most employers are not constructive nor aligned with reality. Some believe that the label ‘good mother’ implies one that dutifully fills her societal role by remaining home with the children. This belief is based solely on preconceived and outdated stereotypes and not on prevalent scientific data which indicates that children whose mothers work are unharmed by this common state of affairs. Other factors such as stress levels within the family affect a child’s psychological, emotional and social development more so than whether or not the mother is at home during the day. It seems to be a non-factor development-wise. “A child who is emotionally well adjusted, well loved, and well cared for will thrive regardless of whether the mother works outside the home” (“Working Mothers”, 1999). In fact, mothers who are successful at managing the responsibilities of both work and home provide an outstanding role model that children respect, admire and emulate. Children raised in homes where the mother works outside the home are often more responsible, independent and goal-oriented as adults. In these families, every member must play an active position in daily activities of the household. The kids are much more inclined, by necessity, to act more responsibly with regards to household chores and caring for siblings. Father is forced to be more involved as well which adds to the overall experience of the cohesive family unit. Dad and the kids have a closer relationship when mom is employed. Men in this situation are usually more supportive of the working mother on an emotional level than he may have otherwise been which the children notice and perpetuate as adults. The working mother feels more valued and garners more support by her family as well. In families where the woman desires a life outside the home but is compelled by guilt or coercion to stay at home instead, stresses within the family often occurs. Resentments arise with concern to money, the lack of it or how it is spent and who decides; the breadwinner or the trapped-at-home mom. In homes where both parents work and the mother does not feel enslaved by her husband, children or social expectations, the children could likely live in a less stressful home situation. This advantageous developmental environment coupled with a greater sense of responsibility gained by necessity suggests that children may ultimately profit when two parents are present in the household and both work (“Working Mothers”, 1999). The evidence and theories which demonstrate children suffer no harms resulting from being raised by working mothers are further validated by examining specific differences in the developmental progress of children in both working and non-working mother families. Studies have concluded that children who lived in impoverished conditions and whose mother worked, whether in one or two-parent families, were found to have superior socio-emotional and cognitive aptitude levels than impoverished children of stay-at-home moms. These studies are consistent with other research that has demonstrated similar disparities based on both socio-economic conditions and gender. For example, the daughters of working mothers are more committed to and enjoy greater academic and career successes and are more likely to choose nontraditional occupations. Sons of working mothers are less inclined to formulate traditional outlooks regarding gender-roles. “In our study, the children of employed mothers obtained higher scores on the three achievement tests, for language, reading, and math, across gender, socioeconomic status, and marital status, middle-class boys included. It was our most robust findings for the child outcome differences” (Hoffman, 1998). When examining lower-class families specifically, it was found that working mothers in this group generally felt more fulfilled and self-satisfied than non-working mothers, feelings which translate to a more positive outlook on life thus a happier, healthier home environment for the children. Middle-class working mothers expressed about the same level of fulfillment and self-satisfaction as did middle-class stay-at-home moms. “While the quality and stability of non-maternal care for infants and young children is important, the mother’s employment itself does not seem to have the negative effects often proclaimed” (Hoffman, 1998). Whether a mother works or not does not seem to have a great impact either way on the overall welfare of the children. There are advantages to both situations. How the family adapts to either is the key element to the success or failure of the family unit. As with many other human issues, it is a two-edged sword in many instances. Sally suffers separation anxiety when dropped off at the daycare and is exposed to other children’s bad habits and diseases but in the long-term, is a more socialized child which will serve her well as an adult. Children of working mothers in single parent homes are more focused and goal-oriented and fathers are more involved with the children in two-parent homes. Wally and Beaver may actually have been better served if their mom worked. Works Cited Hoffman, Lois Wladis. “The Effects of the Mother’s Employment on the Family and the Child.” Parenthood. (1998). June 4, 2007 “Working Mothers.” Caring for Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. Elk Grove, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, Bantam, 1999. June 4, 2007 Read More