BABY FLUX
The newly emerging role of motherhood, and our ever-evolving national obsession with children
- 26% of the nation’s mothers are single women.
- Single-mother-led households have traditionally been economically marginal—21% currently live in poverty, but the emerging population of single mothers-by-choice tends to be more financially secure
- 44% of all women of childbearing age (defined as 15–44) are childless
- The Working Mom vs. Stay-at-Home Mom war has been overplayed in the media. The authors’ survey found that the two groups of women exist in cooperative coexistence, not tension. They share the most important value in common—putting kids first, regardless of their social, professional, or economic circumstances. And most women who are at home today expect to be in the workforce when their children are older though still at home
- The terms “working” and “stay-at-home” are deceptive, as 25% of working mothers work fewer hours than the traditional 40 hour week, while 25% of stay-at-home moms currently do some work for pay.
- One in four mothers age 25–44 is out of the work force.
- In the first big decline since 1976, more moms are staying home with the kids, and 7 in 10 working women tell pollsters they would stay home with their kids if they could.
