Mothers at Work

This important volume examines the effects of the mother’s employment on family life and children’s well-being. It starts with a thorough review of previous research on this topic and then reports the results of a study designed to answer the key questions that emerge. The study focuses on 448 families, with an elementary school child, living in an industrialized city in the Midwest. They include both one-parent and two-parent families, African Americans and Whites, and a broad range of economic circumstances. Extensive data have been obtained from mothers, fathers, children, teachers, classroom peers, and school records. The analysis reported reveals how the mother’s employment status affects the father’s role, the mother’s sense of well-being, and childrearing patterns and how these, in turn, affect the child. The book provides an intimate picture of urban life and how families cope with mothers’ employment.

• Hoffman is considered outstanding authority on the topic • Reports results of a new study which answers key questions and examines influence of socio-economic conditions, ethnicity, etc. • Complete and accurate coverage of research and theory on maternal employment and its effects on children

Preface; 1. Introduction and review of the literature; 2. Methodology; 3. Children’s daily lives: the after-school day interview; 4. The husband-wife relationship; 5. The mother’s well-being; 6. Childrearing; 7. Maternal employment and child outcomes: the direct relationships; 8. The father’s role, gender attitudes, and academic outcomes; 9. The mother’s well-being and child outcomes; 10. Childrearing patterns and child outcomes; 11. Nonmaternal care and supervision: prevalence and effects of child-care arrangement on child well-being; 12. Summary and overview.

‘… a well-written and detailed study … a refreshing look at maternal employment.’ The Psychologist