Balancing work-life can be difficult for parents of young children, indeed, in the U.S 62% of mothers dream of working part time.
Women today account for close to half the labour force in the U.S., vs. 38% in 1970. Most Americans (75%) reject the idea that women should return to a more traditional role, and the majority think that both men and women should contribute to family income. However, a study published by the Pew Research Center on October 1, 2009, shows that U.S. mothers are seeking a better work/personal life balance.
In the U.S., 59% of women now work or are actively looking for a job. 66% of those with children under 17 work full or part time, and of these, 74% work full time*. Rather surprisingly, though, a survey conducted by Pew Research Center this summer that asked working moms whether they would prefer to work part time or full time found that 62% would prefer to work part time, vs. 37% who would rather work full time. Fathers, for their part, had a quite different vision: 79% say they prefer working full time, vs. one in five who say they would choose part time. In 1997, only 48% of working mothers said that the ideal situation for them would be to work part time.
Always feeling rushed
According to study author Kim Parker, many women today are asking themselves whether full-time work is really right for them, especially when they have kids. Wearing the two hats of mother and employee is very difficult, with the two worlds almost systematically clashing. Compared to working dads and stay-at-home moms, working moms more often feel as if there just isn’t enough time in the day. Four out of ten mothers say they always feel rushed.
The author also points out that family responsibilities of mothers have a clear impact on their key life choices. 27% of at-home moms say that family duties keep them from working. In addition, family is one of the main reasons that women have trouble breaking through the glass ceiling into top management positions.
Despite these pressures and conflicts, however, working moms are as likely as at-home moms and working dads to say they’re happy with their lives.
* According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data