Comparing single and stay at home mothers

Published Date: 23 Mar 2015

My research will be directed towards mothers of the society. I wish to perform a detailed study and contrast and compare the working mother's verses the stay at home mothers. I wish to analyze the differences among children raised by a working mother and a stay at home mother and the difficulties and hardships faced by working mothers and stay at home mothers in performing their motherly duties.

Significance of the research project:

The children are the future of the world and mothers are the first institution that they come in contact with, that is why it is essential to study and analyze the difference if raised by a working mother rather than a stay at home mother. This study will help us to proceed in the right direction regarding the upbringing of our children.

Research already conducted (Literature review):

There have been many controversies as to whether working women are better mothers than stay at home mothers. With both mothers certain feelings are attached that has been reviewed by researchers to make assessments. Working mothers usually cannot spend much time with their children, this leads to their feeling guilty .This guilt is experienced most acutely when women attempt to mesh the responsibilities of motherhood with paid work. (Everingham, Stevenson & Warner-Smith, 2007). . On the other hand stay at home mothers have time for children but they often over shadow their children making them too dependent or needy. However, the usual belief of the good mother is one who nurtures and cares for her family and believes that this should be more fulfilling than work (Buzzanell, Meisenbach, Remke, Liu, Bowers & Conn, 2005).

Additional research required:

In addition to the researches already made a need arises to contrast and compare the role of working mother and stay at home mother in the raising of children. Does it really make any difference if the mother is working? What difficulties are faced by working mothers in raising their children? Is raising a child easier for stay at home mother? These are a number of questions that my research project would target.

Benefits of the research:

The organization would benefit from this research as children are a point of concern for all of us. We have to contribute our share so we may help in shaping their future. Research like this provides an insight and show facts that were not clear before. Therefore, my research project will help our organization and serve the society in the long run.

Conclusion:

I am a working mother and can relate to the issues that rise with being a parent as well as being the sole provider for my household. Hence, I believe this research will provide a better understanding of mothers and help children in the process.

I would like to discuss this proposal in more detail with you. If possible, I would like to meet with you in a couple of weeks. I am excited about the opportunity to conduct my research and present the necessary finding as a result of this research. I can be reached at 469-348-4391 or by email at [email protected]

Attachments: references used in literature review are attached.

References:

Buzzanell, P. M., Meisenbach, R., Remke, R., Liu, M., Bowers, V., & Conn, C. (2005). The good working mother: Managerial women's sense making and feelings about work-family issues. Communication Studies. 56, 261-285.

Everingham, C., Stevenson, D., & Warner-Smith, P. (2007). Things are getting better all the time? Challenging the narrative of women's progress from a generational perspective. Sociology, 41, 419-437.

Table of Contents

Memorandum……………………………………………………………………ii

Executive summary……………………………………………………………………ii

Single mothers versus stay at home mothers 1

Portia Jackson 1

Operations Manager 1

Freddie Mac 1

Ireon Robinson 1

Team Leader 1

Freddie Mac 1

Executive summary

Introduction

The main debate that is on today is on what type of mothers are the best. Will it be the home mothers who do spend their days while taking care of the home and the kids or working mothers who spend their entire day, earning a salary in order to take care of the children? Most people claim that the debate is irrelevant as both parents whether hired or not are working mothers. Children are an integral population in the community thus lenders the debate imperative. Also the debate poses a problem because it pits a set of mothers against others as there can be no logical distinct relationship between profession and parenting.

This report aims at contrasting both set of mothers and giving limelight to some of the problems they both go through. It also aims at giving patent differences between the children of these two sets of parents. As much as some women would want to make a choice of whether to work or not to, most mothers do not have a choice. In order for stay at home mothers and the working mothers to get completely along, they should come to a consensus on some things. Just because some have decided to work, it does not mean they are neglecting their children and choosing their career instead. There is nobody who actually knows the family's financial status and their reason to choose their professions apart from them. In fact what is right for one person may not be right to others. The report focuses on the analysis of the interview conducted about the whole subject and proposes a literature review on women's view on the topic, and the problems they undergo as working and staying at home mothers.

2.0. Background

During the past generations, women had only one major role as far as the society is concerned; to stay at home and care for their children. As mothers, they were required by the traditions to stay at home and ensure that all the domestic life did run smoothly for the families. Gone are those days. However, there have been numerous frustrations of actually trying to work continuously full time and at the same time raise a family. Therefore, most women consider the staying at home option. Economists allege that the stay at home parents who refute a career can lose approximately $ 1million over years (Dunleavey, 2010). By some women just choosing to stay at home they limit the future prospects as far as income is concerned and the children might be at risk of not being fully provided for.

Most stay at home mothers have been known to criticize the working mothers claiming that they have gone ahead to choose career over their kids. Working mothers also have retorted saying that just because they do work it does not necessarily mean they do not care about their children's welfare. The working mothers also do criticize the stay at home mothers alleging that they have no dreams and ambitions. Since the year 1970, the gravest changes among the American families are the amplified employment of the mothers outside their homes. According to 'the children of America- working parents and child care' article, the range of children with one parent who worked full time in 2002, increased to 80 % from 70% in 1980. For the children who live with two parents, 89% of them had one parent who worked as compared to 1980 when it was 80%.

Despite the amplifying number of women in the labor force since the year 1994, the number of all the children who are from the two families who had a stay at home mothers and working fathers have grown. In the year 2002, almost eleven million kids who were under 15 years had full time staying at home mothers. Some of the problems faced by the working mothers are trying to balance their work as well as get effectual time to spend with their kids. They also have difficulties in getting adequate childcare for their kids and they are sometimes unable to stay home when their kids get sick. The stay at home mothers on the other hand have some problems like attending appointments issues where the mother is too preoccupied at home and has no helper thus cancels lots of meetings. Also, there are unexpected money issues that may arise with time and with nothing to fall back too, it can be hectic. There are numerous problems that they face and those are just few. The major difference between the two sets of mothers are that working mothers do bring home regular pay check and have very little spending time.

2.1 Assumptions and implications

Most people assume that the working mothers have neglected their families thus they criticize them. They usually think that the working mothers have chosen their professions over their children. On the other hand, mothers who decide to stay at home are always considered to have taken the easy way out and seen as people who have no dreams and ambitions to follow. The issue is that most of the mothers who always work wish they can stay at home and cater for their children and are usually guilty but circumstances force them to work. The stay at home mothers always wish they can have time to go for appointments as well as work.

Explanations of new system

Most of the women today are in the workforce. According to U.S Census Bureau, In the year 2008 according to United States Department of Labor, 68 million women who are employed and 75% of all the employed women worked full time and 25% worked part-time. Most of the women now are hiring caretakers to take care of their children as they go to job. The system according to most people is not appropriate as the caretakers are not effective and can introduce the children into some unfavorable behaviors. Still, the system leads the mothers to feel guilty as they hardly have time for their children thus they grow aloof and more comfortable with the caretakers than the mother.

General requirements

There is a need for the problem to be solved on a rational base. It should be understood that criticism is not the answer but support is. Whether it is working mothers or staying at home mothers, both are working and should be respected. It should also be understood that there is no mother who is better than the other as they are all striving to care for their families whether directly or indirectly. Children of both sets of mothers should be catered for to enable them to succeed irrespective of their mother's financial and professional status. The gap between the two mothers should be narrowed down for effective communication to take place.

Statement of the need

Working mothers do seem to get more criticism for being neglectful. In real essence, working women suffer from stress, overload and other problems. Staying at home mothers also get criticized for apparent luxury and indolence. There is a need for empowerment of women. As most people would assume that working women do not make it in marriage, it is not so. In fact, divorce rates have been on the fall for the last decades, while the female labor force rate has been rising (Zvika et al, 2006). The organization needs to focus on the research as it has its bases on children who are the future leaders of tomorrow.

Project description

The project aims at contrasting and comparing working mothers versus staying at home mothers and the differences between their children. It also does examine whether or not working mothers are better than staying at home mothers and the differences that does arise in their children.

4.1 Explanation of the problem

Single mothers in the professions and managerial occupations face numerous problems. They have difficulties as far as child care is concerned, overload of work and role conflict (Susan & Marilyn, 2001). They face financial strain, minimal support, and more work load than the mothers who have partners (Susan & Marilyn, 2001). Women in the paid employment who basically appear vulnerable to stress based diseases acquire dual role in both workplace and the domestic work. Working women suffer from stress that is induced by both home and work interface (Susan & Marilyn, 2001). Most people also do assume that staying at home mothers are the best mothers as compared to working mothers thus creating controversy between the two. Staying at home mothers do face financial crisis though they give maximum attention to their children. There are also conflicts between families where women are working and men are not. Though use of organizational programs that are work life related are shown to minimize family conflicts and improve satisfaction and the well being, the availability of some extensive as well as generous policies do not result in utilization of the employees (Paula et al, 2005). Attention is highly needed to curb this problem as the children are integral people in the society. The mothers need counseling, consulting and coaching in order to cope with the stress that is prevailing (James et al, 1999).

4.2 Statement of the objectives

To examine whether working mothers are better mothers than staying at home mothers and also to find out the problems experienced by both mothers in the workplace and as far as society is concerned. There is also a need to explore on the differences of children raised by working mothers and stay at home mothers as far as attitudes and performance is concerned

4.3 Methodology

Research design

The research is a case study on working women versus staying at home women and studying how they differ as far as their children are concerned as well as the problems they face.

Population and sample

The population of this study is both men and women in Hawaii. The study used a systematic random method to choose the sample. Stratification was based on gender and status quo as far as workforce is concerned. 50 households were chosen as the sample.

Data collection

I used primary and secondary data. I used interviews and questionnaires as primary methods. The data collected included number of households, problems they faced and how their children differ. Data collection from peer reviewed articles and general research was also used.

4.4 Data analysis and findings

Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (S.P.S.S). Performance in school represented the independent variable while the parents represented dependent variables. Data collected regarding the problems of both sets of women were also independent variables. The analysis showed that both sets of women faced numerous problems including criticism and stress. Children from women staying at home were likely to become more independent on their parents than the working mother's children. Both the children of the working and non working mothers had similar performance since most working mothers alleged that they had time with their children in the evening and helped them with their class work.

Budget

Given that all my resources are actually available, there isn't much costs associated with performing this research. The major costs are photocopying articles, printing the report, and a laptop that will enable me do the research.

5.1 Conclusion and recommendation

It is evident that both women whether working or staying at home mothers have diverse problems. They both suffer from stress and other patent problems. There is a need to be aware on how these women should be empowered and exactly how their problems should be solved since they are the backbone of the children who need full support.