Introduction
In their essence, every mother is a working mother; however, some of them have responsibilities outside their homes. To raise their children in the best conditions possible and to support their partners financially, mothers choose to work. Even though there is a popular stereotype that women should only stay at home and take care of children, many mothers stress the importance of having a career and developing as an individual because doing housework all the time makes women unhappy and unfulfilled.
Benefits of Working for Mothers
To explore the topic of working mothers in greater detail, it is important to outline the key benefits of having a career as a mother. First, women that work make positive role models for their children. No matter what the income of the family is, children need to be taught that money comes from hard work. Mothers that prefer to have a career can subsequently influence children’s ideas about marriage, finance, and house chores. Second, mothers that work are less likely to suffer from depression according to the research conducted by Gallup. This is particularly important for the overall wellbeing of the entire family that will not benefit from dealing with a depressed adult. Third, as found by the National Bureau of Economic Research, children whose mothers work tend to perform better academically (on average, the GPA is 2.6% higher). Fourth, mothers that have a professional career are more fulfilled in their relationships with partners. This occurs because of the differentiation of personal and professional life as well as the presence of an ‘outside of the house’ activity when partners have healthy distance. Fifth, the obvious benefit is that working mothers add to the income of the family, which is crucial for children’s upbringing and ensuring a secure future.
Statistics and Examples
The outline of the benefits above shows that having a professional career for women can improve their lives in a variety of aspects ranging from personal relationships with family members to psychological stability. If to examine some facts, 85% of working mothers state that they are happy with their lives even though 42% of people have an opinion that mothers should not work at all. The global average of working mothers is 54.3%; the highest rate of working mothers is in Sweden (76%), Denmark (74%), and Norway (73%). Such a high percentage is explained by the generous financial support from the government that invests in childcare from the earliest ages so that mothers can return to work easily.
The topic of working mothers has been a subject of heated debates due to the difference in public views about the duties of men and women. In one of her TEDx Talks (2015), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin explored the responsibilities of a mother that has to be present at home to support her family mentally but also has to manage an abundance of work-related projects. Despite the stereotypes, Sandlin stressed that work opens many opportunities for women. Another interesting video to watch is Rachel Hollis’s (2014) video about a typical day of a working mother. It was shot very realistically so that viewers can see that life is not easy for a mother who works; however, it is rewarding and fulfilling.
Conclusion
To conclude, working mothers do not have a relaxed and peaceful life; however, the pressure and a long list of diverse responsibilities keep them motivated and passionate. Apart from the obvious benefits, working mothers can find the right balance between their personal and professional life, which is essential for maintaining happiness and satisfaction.
References
Hollis, R. (2014). Day in the life of a working mother – Rachel Hollis. Web.
TEDX Talks. (2015). Managing life’s opportunities as a working mother. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. TEDxBrookings. Web.