Surprising Facts About Modern Mothers

The Modern Mother Tends to Work More

While being a mother has always entailed a great deal of work, modern mothers are also devoting greater amounts of time to paid work outside of the home. In 2011, the average mother in America spent 21 hours a week on the job, up from 8 hours in 1965. Additionally, nearly three out of four women with children are employed full or part time, and 40 percent of mothers earn the household’s primary income. In a Pew Research survey, the majority of respondents stated that new mothers should either take time off or work part time. However, single mothers acting as the sole provider reported that they often find it impossible to step away from the job.

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Review Date: 
May 9, 2014

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Last Updated:
July 1, 2014