A Search for That Perfect Balance; the Increasing Number of Women Who Choose to Combine a Career with Motherhood Has Been Blamed for a Rise in Family Break-Ups. Madeleine Brindley Spoke to Three Women about Their Decisions to Either Stay at Home with Their Children or Become Working Mothers and the Impact on Their Families

Byline: Madeleine Brindley

A LANDMARK inquiry into childhood included the conclusion that women's increasing economic independence from their male partners is contributing to family break-ups.

This breakdown of family life is in turn damaging children, according to the Good Childhood report.

More mothers of babies under 12 months old now work than do not and their children are being looked after in childcare rather than by their parents.

The report highlighted two major changes to society and motherhood - the fact that more women are now working and that family break-up is more common.

It said that 70% of mothers of nine to 12-month-old babies now do some paid work, compared to 25% 25 years ago. In most cases the children are cared for by people other than their parents.

And compared to the start of the 20th century, more women now work outside the home and combine careers with motherhood.

The report, published on Monday, added: "The second change is the rise in family break-up.

Women's new economic independence contributes to this rise - it has made women much less dependent on their male partners, as has the advent of the welfare state.

"As a result of family break-up, a third of our 16-year-olds now live apart from their biological father."

And the outlook …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: A Search for That Perfect Balance; the Increasing Number of Women Who Choose to Combine a Career with Motherhood Has Been Blamed for a Rise in Family Break-Ups. Madeleine Brindley Spoke to Three Women about Their Decisions to Either Stay at Home with Their Children or Become Working Mothers and the Impact on Their Families. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Publication date: February 4, 2009. Page number: 16. © 2009 MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale Group.

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