If you’re a working mom, you may often find yourself battling feelings of guilt and stress as you balance your career and family life. You might even question whether your job is harming your children or if your absence during certain moments of their childhood makes you a lesser mother. Rest assured, it doesn’t! Recent research reveals that having a working mom can actually offer significant advantages to children later in life.
A comprehensive study conducted by a team of researchers from the U.S. and the U.K. examined data from over 100,000 individuals across 29 countries to understand the impact of employed mothers on their children’s adult lives. The findings, published in the journal Work, Employment, and Society, indicated that “adult daughters of working mothers are more likely to be employed themselves and, if they are working, they tend to have supervisory roles, clock more hours, and earn higher incomes compared to their peers whose mothers did not work.”
While the study highlighted that sons of working mothers tend to dedicate more time to caring for family members, it did not consider this a crucial factor for their career success. Importantly, the research also noted that there was no significant difference in the happiness levels of adults raised by working mothers versus stay-at-home moms. This revelation may help alleviate some of the guilt that many working mothers carry.
As Kathleen McGinn, a professor at Harvard Business School and the lead author of the study, shared with CNN, “These findings contribute to the growing evidence that employed women do not negatively impact their families or society.” However, it’s worth noting that many still believe children thrive best with a parent at home—often implying a mother.
This study emphasizes that daughters of working moms are more likely to engage in the workforce, while sons are inclined to spend more time at home. The key takeaway? Working moms can instill a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility in their children.
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In summary, the evidence suggests that having a working mom can lead to positive outcomes for children in their future careers and family dynamics. So, let go of that guilt and embrace the impact you’re making!