Recently MSNBC had a feature on a study done in Britain about children of working moms. The study claims to have found that children whose mothers work are more likely to eat unhealthy food such as chips, chocolate, and cookies and consume unhealthy drinks such as soda. In addition the study found that these children also tend to exercise less, being more likely to be driven to school and to spend time in front of a computer screen or television set. The article concludes by saying that the purpose of the study is not to chastise mothers who choose to work, but rather to highlight that the government should come up with policies and programs that would help benefit working mothers. What I would like to know is where the study on children whose fathers work is? The article implicates that a working father is the norm; it is when the mother works outside the home that we need to worry about the well being.
It is true that traditionally, it is the mother who assumes the role of nurturer and caretaker. Usually responsible for cooking the family meals, cleaning the family home, and shuttling children to and from activities, so it is no wonder that adding a career to that as well would mean that some areas are going to suffer. However, I believe that if there was more involvement overall from fathers in capacities that are typically viewed as womanly or motherly then children wouldn’t be faced with these deficiencies. Additionally, rather than needing the government to step in and fund programs, perhaps companies should be more tolerant of homes where both parents are required or choose to work and allow flexibility of scheduling, day care, or after school care to children. In my office, which is predominately comprised of women a woman gave birth last February. After returning to the office after her maternity leave, she found that the strain of being away from her child was too hard on her and she hated the idea of having to leave her in day care too often at such a young age. Officially, the University would not be inclined in assisting in this dilemma. However, unofficially because other coworkers felt empathetic to her feelings, they came up with a way for her to work alternate hours throughout the week so that she could take more time off to be with her daughter. But why should this be unofficial? Why is it that we cannot come up with a healthier balance of work and home life, and why does the burden fall primarily on the mother? If a woman becomes a mother while working and chooses to take the first year or so of the child’s life off, chances are there won’t be a job for her to return to. And yet we are critical of the outcome of children whose mothers work. It seems like a no-win situation for mothers.
If indeed the government was able and willing to create programs to supplement this, I think that it would need to involve some sort of incentive programs that would give tax breaks or insurance breaks or something of the like to companies who provide or supplement childcare. I do know that there are companies that exist which offer daycare, but I don’t often hear of companies offering after school care for school age children. I think that fathers involvement and company’s care and flexibility and compassion towards working parents would both improve children’s health and habits.
http://www.nj.com/parenting/lee_lusardiconnor/index.ssf/2009/11/post.html
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Opinion Response #2
ReplyDeleteWorking Mothers Negatively Impact Children’s Health
I agree with Corey completely. Although it is great that the mother, or both parents are working to provide income, a lot of the necessities that a child needs are over looked. It is unfortunate that there are not programs through the parent’s work companies that provide day care or a supplement for daycare. Obama stresses that mothers should return to school and continue their education for better careers, and though I agree with him, we must work to substantiate for their absence.
Growing up, my parents both held very busy jobs. They owned and managed a restaurant together. Me and my brother had babysitters every night. I feel like they put their business first and didn’t think about what it would do to our family. We started staying home alone at very young ages, making our own dinners and had little pressure to complete our homework. I began competitive gymnastics and that took the place of the time that I would be spending home alone. I learned through that proper nutrition and exercise. As my dedication and time spent in the sport, it was as if suddenly I was the busy one, and why we never had family dinners and such. Unfortunately, not every child has that opportunity and there should be more programs implemented and held until later hours for children who would otherwise be left home alone.
The father is forgotten about in this argument and is just expected to be working. The mother is blamed for leading a career that she enjoys, or often simply needs to hold. I definitely agree with Corey’s idea to offer tax breaks or opportunities that supplement and wish that there were programs already implemented and that this situation was already solved.