Can Working Women Be Good Mothers?

Career

• For some working mothers, a career is a cherished opportunity to do interesting, meaningful and satisfying work, possibly leading to a leadership position. Career women face challenges in finding a good balance between work and family. In theory, men with careers face the same challenges, but in reality women often face additional pressure because of social expectations about gender roles. If a man works late even though his child is sick, no one is likely to condemn him for it, but a working mother in the same position can face harsh judgment no matter which decision she makes.

Leaning In or Opting Out

• When Sheryl Sandberg published her book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead," it reignited the debate about whether a woman can be equally focused on career and family and which of the two she should choose if the answer is no. Sandberg's book was based on the premise that too many women "opt out" of career success by prioritizing family life instead of "leaning in" and accepting the challenges of career and leadership. However, Sandberg's position as the COO of Facebook makes her situation very different from that faced by most working mothers.

Economic Necessity

• According to a 2011 article in the "Deseret News," 71 percent of moms now work outside of the home and women are the primary breadwinners in 20 percent of all single-income households in the United States. Obviously the great majority of those women are not working in high-status executive positions. Some of them are single mothers who have to work to support their children on their own. Others work because their two-parent household couldn't cover its expenses without two incomes. Some working moms see their jobs as careers and some see them as just a way to earn a living and help support their families. When so many mothers have no realistic choice except to work outside of the home, it seems particularly unfair to question whether they can also be good moms.

Balance

• While most people would rather have a fulfilling career than just work at a job, phrasing the conflict between work and family as a choice is often misleading. Moms who work outside of the home, whether from choice or necessity, must make many difficult decisions in balancing the demands they face. A mother who goes to work full time so her kids can have what they need isn't being a bad mother any more than a father in the same position. Companies that make it easier for both moms and dads to balance work and home life can help their employees do their best at both jobs.