When mothers work

by Joan K. Peters

In When Mothers Work, Joan K. Peters argues that such sacrificial motherhood isn't good for children, much less for marriages or for mothers. The real question is: why haven't we adapted motherhood and work to accommodate our vastly changed lives? Drawing on the latest research and discussions with prominent psychologists, Peters explains our deep-seated resistance to mothering (and fathering) in new ways. She makes the case that, given sensible working conditions, a mother's employment means a richer parenting experience, stronger marriages, and more balanced children. With portraits of a dozen real families - corporate and blue collar, religious and secular, step- and single parents, urban and suburban - Peters illustrates the strategies that make this new family life succeed.