Study finds many moms want to work
February 1, 2012
While many mothers work out of necessity to help their families financially, others join or stay in the workforce simply because they like it.
A recent study of employed mothers conducted by researchers at the University of Louisville found that many would work even if they didn't have to.
Researchers interviewed 40 American and Canadian working mothers for the study, which is published in the February issue of Gender & Society. Most women in the study were born between 1970 and 1985 and each had at least one child under the age of 5, while more than half had two children.
Most of the women interviewed for the study - regardless of their class, race/ethnicity or marital status - said they would work at least part time even if they didn't have to. Many married and single mothers cited the fulfillment and self-confidence working outside the home affords them, and some said that being a part of the workforce offered them and their children more benefits than being a stay-at-home mom.
"About one-third of the 40 employed mothers expressed some ambivalence or guilt over their employment, but most justified their paid work by saying it made them more fulfilled people, in addition to better mothers," lead researcher Karen Christopher said. "So, these mothers are not only reframing what good mothering entails, they also frame employment in ways different than do earlier studies of mothers."
While almost all of the subjects said they want to work and enjoy their careers, many said that they must place limits on how much they work so that they can remain connected to their children. For example, some of the working mothers in the study said that they seek out employers who would not demand that they work overtime or nights on a regular basis.
The research also found that working mothers do about two times as much childcare and housework, compared to their husbands.
Researchers say that in 2010, approximately two-thirds of North American mothers with young children worked outside of the home.
Many who want to make the transition from a stay-at-home mom to a working mother often choose to pursue a college degree in order to prepare themselves for the workforce, learn and increase their earning potential.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2009, the average salary for adults ages 25 to 34 with a bachelor's degree was $45,000, while those with a high school diploma or other equivalent degree earned an average of $30,000 per year.
Those who need help paying for a college education can apply for various grants for parents, scholarships for mothers and single mother scholarships to make getting a degree financially possible.
