"Working mothers trying to do it all" has always been a hot-button issue, with the pros and cons discussed ad nauseam in the media. But, the New York Times reports on a new study that overwhelmingly suggests being raised by a mother who has a job is a very positive thing.
Researchers from the Harvard Business School surveyed 50,000 adults in 25 countries about the impact working mothers had on their children. They found, the Times writes, that "daughters of working mothers completed more years of education, were more likely to be employed and in supervisory roles, and earned higher incomes."
While working mothers don't seem to have a positive or negative impact on the careers of their sons, they do have an influence on the division of household labor. In the U.S., men who are raised by working mothers spend "seven and a half more hours a week on child care and 25 more minutes on housework," according to the survey.
Professor Kathleen McGinn, one of the paper's authors, was thrilled with these findings. "This is as close to a silver bullet as you can find in terms of helping reduce gender inequalities, both in the workplace and at home," she told the Times.
The takeaway here? If you're looking for a male partner who will be supportive of your career ambitions, find out early if his mom worked outside the home. While it may be impossible to "do it all," it seems a whole lot more achievable when you've got a partner who's willing to help clean the bathtub and pick the baby up from day care while you're busy making waves in the boardroom.
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