Working Women and Their Families

Today, most mothers are in the paid labor force. Many of them, torn by memories of the days when most women stayed home, wonder whether their working is causing irreparable harm. Will their children be adversely affected? What about the family unit as a whole? Will it suffer? Many women, who have no choice but to work, are completely distressed by the combination of work and family. Others enjoy the fulfillment and pride that employment brings. In Working Women and Their Families, the author examines children's social, emotional, and intellectual development in families with working mothers. She points out the complexity of the issue and the various factors that can influence child development including age, sex, and temperament of the child; and broader issues such as family wealth or poverty, father's attitudes, and the quality of child care. The author also explores the many myths surrounding women who work: Is it unnatural, unhealthy, and risky to delegate a child's care to someone who isn't biologically connected? Is a "stay-at-home" mother better than a working one? The author also examines current public policy options that can help or hurt women's ability to meet their dual roles. Working Women and Their Families is an extremely useful text for courses on child development, family studies, work and family, women's studies, child care, and family services.Lerner, Jacqueline V. is the author of 'Working Women and Their Families', published 1993 under ISBN 9780803942097 and ISBN 0803942095.