Women wear many hats every day. That’s especially true for women juggling families and careers. Chauffeur, negotiator, advocate, moderator, mom, wife, and employee are just some of the titles that apply to modern women.
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Census Bureau indicate women represent nearly half of the United States workforce, but women still devote more time than men to housework and child care. While few are advocating for traditional gender roles of the past to be reinstated, a 2012 Pew Research survey found that very few adults (16 percent) indicated having a mother who works full-time is the “ideal situation” for the family. Nearly 42 percent said a mother who works part-time is ideal. Even among full-time working mothers, only about 20 percent said that having a full-time working mother is ideal for young children.
“Ideal” is not always practical, and since the Pew survey, the workforce has changed in many ways, particularly by the number of employers who have adopted family-friendly policies or pivoted to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. That means working moms have even greater leverage to find a balance that works for their unique situations. These tips can help women free up more time for what’s most meaningful to them.