How working mothers influence their children positively

Guilt is a daily struggle for the working mother. Her children may be her main motivation at work but she still beats herself up for the time she misses out on with her children. Findings of a new study however suggest that when she works away from home, it is beneficial for both her sons and daughters.

The daughters, especially, seem to benefit more from having the role model of a working mother. Apparently, daughters of working mothers turn out to be more successful while her sons are more caring.

This is according to findings by researchers from Harvard Business School which they came to after analysing data from two dozen countries. The researchers asked the study subjects questions like whether their mother ever spent a year or more working full-time or part-time

GENDER ATTITUDES

The study findings show that daughters of working mothers are 4.5 per cent more likely to be employed, to hold supervisory positions and to earn more money than daughters of those mothers not working away from the home. In fact, 33 per cent of daughters of working mothers were found to hold supervisory positions in comparison to only 25 per cent of daughters of stay-at-home mums. 

The working mother’s sons, on the other hand, were found to be more likely to take care of other people and to do chores around the home more than sons of stay-at-home mums.

Explaining these findings, Kathleen McGinn a professor at the university and the study’s author says, “What I take away from this is that employed mothers create an environment in which their children’s attitudes on what is appropriate for girls and what is appropriate for boys is affected.”

It appears that in addition to passing on gender attitudes, a working mother also passes on to her daughter a set of skills that enable greater participation at the workplace leading her to senior positions.

 After analysing these findings, the researchers conclude that being a working mother has more long-lasting positive effects. When a mother goes to work, they say, she is helping her children understand that there are many opportunities out there for them so that they can lead rich and rewarding lives.

They hope that these study findings will bring about respect for the spectrum of choices that both men and women make at home and at work.