More moms are staying home according to a recent study released by the Pew Research Center; however, those mothers are younger, poorer and less educated than their working counterparts. Reversing recent trends, the analysis showed that 29% of mothers with children under 18 were stay-at-home moms compared to 23% in 1999. But, and it’s a big but, 34% of stay-at-home moms are in poverty versus only 14% in 1970. By comparison, only 12% of today’s working moms are in poverty. Unfortunately, the analysis showed that moms who stay at home often did so for economic reasons such as the inability to find a decent paying job or land a job altogether.
As for public opinion, 60% of Americans surveyed say that children are better off when a parent stays at home to focus on the family. These views vary by ethnicity, religion and education. Hispanics, white evangelical Protestants and those who never attended college are more likely to say children are better off with a parent at home, while college educated women are most likely to say that children are just as well off if both parents work outside the home.
For complete results and analysis, click on this link for the Pew Research Center: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/04/08/
Posted: May 7, 2014
