Maternal employment : marvel or menace : the views of children, young adults, and parents

This timely book describes numerous empirical research investigations exploring attitudes toward maternal employment. Large samples of young adults were asked a wide variety of questions about their experiences and plans for the future. The impact of maternal employment on relationships with parents was a particular focus of several of these studies. Several studies also explored the views of adolescents, to see if younger individuals saw things differently. Children from both suburban and urban backgrounds were compared. Parents were also surveyed. Their perceptions of the effects of maternal employment on their own and others' families were assessed. Finally, cross-temporal and cross-cultural examinations were conducted, to examine changes in attitudes over time and place. These studies allow the reader to consider the long-term consequences of maternal employment and to juxtapose empirical findings with conventional assumptions about the impact of maternal employment. Some of the findings are consistent with cultural myths, but other findings sharply contrast with conventional wisdom. Reviewing this research will be helpful to those interested in exploring how their families helped to shape their lives, and those formulating career and family plans. Reading this research may enable them to make more informed personal choices. Maternation Employment: Marvel or Menace - The Views of Children, Young Adults, and Parents......Page 3 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 15 Introduction......Page 17 Section I. Young Adults' Attitudes About Maternal Employment: Comparisons among Children from Different Types of Households......Page 21 Introduction......Page 23 Controversial Images of Maternal Employment......Page 24 Similarities Across Different Family Types Eclipse Differences......Page 25 Relational and Attachment Risks......Page 26 Intellectual, Academic, and Behavioral Risks......Page 28 Attitudes among Future Parents......Page 29 Method......Page 31 Results......Page 33 Attitudinal Responses of Men and Women Combined......Page 34 Correlates of Consistent Maternal Employment: Employment Versus Nonemployment......Page 36 Attitudes About Perceived Costs and Benefits Associated with Maternal Employment......Page 37 Individual BACMEC Scale Items......Page 38 Discussion......Page 42 Abstract......Page 45 Introduction......Page 46 Previous Research on Mother-Child Attachment......Page 47 The Effects of Daycare on Children......Page 49 The Negative Effects of Daycare on Children......Page 50 Attitudes toward Maternal Employment......Page 51 Students' Perceptions of Maternal Employment......Page 52 Gender-Role Attitudes and the Allocation of Household Chores......Page 53 Gender-Role Attitudes of Parents and Their Children......Page 54 The Daughters of Working Mothers......Page 55 Family Structure's Influence on Attitudes and Career Aspirations of Offspring......Page 56 Family Structure and Household Chores......Page 57 Results......Page 60 Interaction Effects......Page 64 Participants with a History of Full-Time Maternal Employment......Page 66 Preferences for Spousal Employment......Page 67 Participant with a History of Part-time Maternal Employment......Page 70 Preferences for Spousal Employment......Page 71 Participants with a History of Maternal Non-Employment......Page 73 Preferences for Spousal Employment......Page 74 Discussion......Page 79 Abstract......Page 81 Introduction......Page 82 Impact on Women's Happiness......Page 83 Impact on Children......Page 85 Present Investigation......Page 98 Results......Page 99 Costs and Benefits Associated with Maternal Employment......Page 101 Maternal Career and Children's Career Aspirations......Page 102 Perceptions of Relationships with Patients......Page 103 Discussion......Page 109 Career Aspirations......Page 110 Perceptions of Parents......Page 111 Future Research......Page 112 Abstract......Page 113 Introduction......Page 114 Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes......Page 120 Maternal Employment during the Preschool and Elementary School Years......Page 129 Sex Differences in Preschool and Elementary School Samples......Page 136 Discussion......Page 140 Section II. Young Adults' Relationships with Parents and Attachment Style......Page 145 Introduction......Page 147 Impact on Mothers......Page 148 Impact on Children......Page 149 Association with Attachment......Page 150 Impact of Child Care......Page 153 Influence of Cognitive and Langage Development......Page 156 Present Investigation......Page 159 Results......Page 160 Adult Attachment Scale......Page 161 Maternal Relationship Scale and Paternal Relationship Scale......Page 164 Perceived Costs and Benefits Associated with Maternal Employment......Page 165 Discussion......Page 166 Introduction......Page 171 Method......Page 173 Criticism of Maternal Work Status Scale......Page 174 Perceptions of Relationships with Parents......Page 176 Young Adults' Perceptions of the Costs and Benefits Associated with Maternal Employment......Page 178 Young Adults' Family and Career Aspirations and Expectations......Page 181 Participants with a History of Full-time Maternal Employment......Page 182 Participants with a History of Part-time Maternal Employment......Page 186 Preferences for Spousal Employment......Page 187 Participants with a History of Maternal Non-Employment......Page 189 Preferences for Spousal Employment......Page 190 Expectations of Household Chores and Income for Self and Spouse Among members of all Consistent Maternal Employment Groups......Page 193 Discussion......Page 194 Abstract......Page 197 Method......Page 198 Study I: Maternal Employment During the Elementary School Years......Page 199 Discussion......Page 201 Study II: Maternal Employment During Adolescence......Page 202 Discussion......Page 205 Introduction......Page 207 Effects on Mothers......Page 209 Family-Work Stress......Page 210 Repercussions of Maternal Employment on Children......Page 212 Timing of Return to Employment and Its Impact on Children......Page 215 Research on Timing of Return to Maternal Employment......Page 218 Study I......Page 219 Study II......Page 222 Study III......Page 233 Section III. Adolescents' Attitudes About Maternal Employment and Occupation Ambition......Page 239 Abstract......Page 241 Introduction......Page 242 Perceived Costs and Benefits of Maternal Employment......Page 255 Attitudes toward Maternal Employment and Child's Employment Preferences......Page 257 Discussion......Page 258 Abstract......Page 261 Introduction......Page 262 Results......Page 274 Self-Esteem......Page 275 Discussion......Page 276 Abstract......Page 279 Introduction......Page 280 Results......Page 282 Discussion......Page 283 Section IV. Parents' Attitudes and Behavior......Page 285 Introduction......Page 287 Previous Research on Maternal Employment......Page 290 Previous Research on Mother-Child Attachment......Page 291 The Childcare Debate......Page 294 Effects of Maternal Employment of Fathers......Page 297 Attitudes toward Maternal Employment......Page 299 Attitudes among Children of Working Mothers......Page 302 Method......Page 305 Individual BACMEC Scale Items......Page 306 Discussion......Page 316 The Relationship of Maternal Employment to Parenting Style and Attitudes: Parents from Single and Two Paycheck Families......Page 321 Method......Page 325 Discussion......Page 327 Study I......Page 329 Study II......Page 340 Study III......Page 345 Abstract......Page 349 Introduction......Page 350 Effects on Mothers......Page 352 Effects on Fathers......Page 354 Effects on Parents......Page 357 Effects on Children......Page 358 Effects on Daughters Versus Sons......Page 360 Effects on Infant-Parent Bond......Page 362 Effects on School-Age Children's and Adolecents' Achievement......Page 363 Attitudes toward Maternal Employment......Page 366 Study I......Page 367 2x2 MANOVA of the BACMEC......Page 369 2x2 MANOVA of the MRS and the PRS......Page 373 2x2x3 MANOVA of the BACMEC, MRS, and PRS......Page 374 Discussion of Study I Findings......Page 377 Study II......Page 381 Discussion of Study II Findings......Page 386 Cross-Cultural Comparisons: German Versus American Attitudes and Policies Regarding Maternal Employment......Page 387 Cultural Attitudes and Current Trends A Forced Choice: Motherhood Versus Career in Germany......Page 390 An Anecdotal Report......Page 395 Study I, II, and III......Page 399 Views of Young Adults......Page 400 Views of Parents......Page 401 Study I......Page 402 Results......Page 403 AAS Individual Item Analyses......Page 404 Quality of Current Relationships with Parents Maternal Relationship Scale (MRS) and Paternal Relationship Scale (PRS)......Page 406 Do Children Find Fault with their Mother's Employment Choice?......Page 408 General Attachment Findings......Page 410 Relationships with Parents Findings......Page 411 Mother Blaming Findings......Page 413 Maternal Employment During the Child's Adolescence......Page 414 How Maternal Employment Affects Views of Fathers: The Influence of Financial Motivation for Mothers' Working......Page 415 Children's Career Ambitions......Page 420 Study II......Page 421 Spousal Employment Plans of Sons From Consistently Employed Versus Nonemployed Mothers......Page 423 Resolving Contradictory Findings......Page 426 Study III......Page 427 Conclusions......Page 432 References......Page 435 Index......Page 477 How Today's Soon-to-be Parents See Maternal Employment / Catherine Chambliss ... [et Al.] -- College Students' Perceptions Of The Costs And Benefits Associated With Maternal Employment During Preschool And Their Expectations For Future Spouse, Self, And Family / Jenna Noelle Filipkowski And Catherine Chambliss -- The Relationship Between Full-time And Part-time Maternal Employment During The Preschool Years And Young Adults' Attitudes About Maternal Work Status And Career Aspirations / Shelby Cochran And Catherine Chambliss -- Male And Female College Students' Perceptions Of The Costs And Benefits Associated With Maternal Employment During The Preschool Versus Elementary School Years / Carla Marie D'olio -- The Relationship Between Maternal Employment Background And Attachment In Young Adults / Jessica Kim And Catherine Chambliss -- Family Attitudes And Plans Among Young Adults With Consistently Full-time Employed, Part-time Employed, And Nonemployed Mothers / Catherine Chambliss ... [et Al.] -- The Relationship Between Maternal Employment During The Elementary School Years (study I) And Adolescence (study Ii) And The Quality Of Subsequent Relationships With Parents / Jamie Szuchyt ... [et Al.] -- The Correlates Of Maternal Employment Timing And Financial Necessity (study I, Ii And Iii) / Kristen Gallagher ... [et Al.] -- The Relationship Between Full-time And Part-time Maternal Employment And Middle School Students' Lifestyle Plans / Fauve Young-morrison And Catherine Chambliss -- The Relationship Between Full-time And Part-time Maternal Employment And Male And Female Middle School Students' Family Attitudes And Preferences / Wendi Frank And Catherine Chambliss -- Middle School Students' Attitudes About Maternal Employment And The Quality Of Their Maternal And Paternal Relationships / Aimee Black ... [et Al.] -- A Comparison Of Married Parental Attitudes About Maternal Employment And Family Functioning In Single And Two Paycheck Families / Noelle Bisinger And Catherine Chambliss -- The Relationship Of Maternal Employment To Parenting Style And Attitudes : Parents From Single And Two Paycheck Families / Catherine Chambliss And Suzanne Yang -- The Relationship Between Maternal Employment And Children's Involvement In Structured Extracurricular Activities (study I), Maternal Employment And Parenting Of Preschoolers (study Ii) And Maternal Employment And Parenting Of Elementary School Students (study Iii) / Heather L. Pugh ... [et Al.] -- Generational Differences In Attitudes About The Effects Of Maternal Employment On Children (study I And Ii) / Stephanie Bachmann Metz ... [et Al.] -- Cross-cultural Comparisons : German Versus American Attitudes And Policies Regarding Maternal Employment / Stephanie Schleidt And Ashley E. Hans -- Summary : Maternal Work Works, But No One Size Fits All / Catherine Chambliss. Catherine Chambliss, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [415)-455) And Index. How today's soon-to-be parents see maternal employment College students' perceptions of the costs and benefits associated with maternal employment during preschool and their expectations for future spouse, self, and family The relationship between full-time and part-time maternal employment during the preschool years and young adults' attitudes about maternal work status and career aspirations Male and female college students' perceptions of the costs and benefits associated with full-time and part-time maternal employment during the preschool versus elementary school years The relationship between consistent maternal employment (full-time and part-time) background and attachment in young adults Family attitudes among young adults with consistently full-time employed, part-time employed, and non-employed mothers The relationship between maternal employment during the elementary school years (study i) and adolescence (study ii) and the quality of subsequent relationships with parents The correlates of maternal employment timing and financial necessity (study i, ii and iii) The relationship between full-time and part-time maternal employment and middle school students' lifestyle plans The relationship between full-time and part-time maternal employment and male and female middle school students' family attitudes and preferences Middle school students' attitudes about maternal employment and the quality of their maternal and paternal relationships A comparison of married parental attitudes about maternal employment and family functioning in single and two paycheck families The relationship of maternal employment to parenting style and attitudes: parents from single and two paycheck families The relationship between maternal employment and children's involvement in structured extracurricular activities (study i), maternal employment and parenting of preschoolers (study ii) and maternal employment and parenting of elementary school students (study iii) Generational differences in attitudes about the effects of maternal employment on children (study i and ii) Cross-cultural comparisons : german and american attitudes and policies regarding maternal employment. This new and timely book describes numerous empirical research investigations exploring attitudes toward maternal employment. Large samples of young adults were asked a wide variety of questions about their experiences and plans for the future. The impact of maternal employment on relationships with parents was a particular focus of several of these studies. Several studies also explored the views of adolescents, to see if younger individuals saw things differently. Children from both suburban and urban backgrounds were compared. Parents were also surveyed. Their perceptions of the effects of maternal employment on their own and others'families were assessed. Finally, cross-temporal and cross-cultural examinations were conducted, to examine changes in attitudes over time and place. These studies allow the reader to consider the long-term consequences of maternal employment and to juxtapose empirical findings with conventional assumptions about the impact of maternal employment. Some of the findings are consistent with cultural myths, but other findings sharply contrast with conventional wisdom. Reviewing this research will be helpful to those interested in exploring how their families helped to shape their lives, and those formulating career and family plans. Reading this research may enable them to make more informed personal choices.