E. Hock, Gnezda Mt, S. McBride
May 1, 1984
Citations
3
Influential Citations
89
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Journal of Marriage and Family
Abstract
By 1980 41.7% of all mothers in the US with children under 3 were employed. This study examines attitudes about maternal roles and maternal employment in a group of 317 mothers. Mothers completed questinnaires after their first babies were born and again 3 months later. Results show a pervasive belief in the maternal role. Most mothers think that only they can meet their childrens needs and given a choice prefer to stay home with their children. These findings support friedans suggestion that we need to recognize womens need to give and receive love and nurture. Younger mothers think that exclusive maternal care is more important than do older mothers. Older mothers generally have more education higher occupational status and greater opportunities than younger mothers; to older mothers motherhood is probably only 1 of their options. Women who plan to stay home with their children have stronger beliefs in exclusive maternal care. Womens desires to stay at home with their children generally increased during the 3 months of the study which suggests that women enjoyed motherhood more as they establish relationships with their children. 66% of the mothers in this sample plan to return to work within a year but most are also ambivalent about returning to work. These mothers would benefit from programs designed to anticipate their own and their childrens responses to employment and nonmaternal care. Fathers should be involved in day care and employment decisions. Employers need to provide day care or information about it as well as flexible maternity leave and work schedules.