Working mums: new study finds going out to work has no harmful effect on small children

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello. We've just had the heads-up on this study suggesting that there are no significant detrimental effects on a child's social or emotional development if her or his mother works during her or his early years.

In fact, young girls may even gain from being in a household where their mother works, say researchers at University College London, in a UK-wide project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

These findings run counter to those of some previous studies, which have suggested that children whose mother works in the first year of their life may be more prone to bad behaviour, or even to be more overweight.

What do you think? Do the new findings surprise you? Or confirm what you already knew? Do tell...

This is still going!

I really feel my defintion of wage slave has been misinterpreted you know

you're the beneficiary of wage slave.given you dont work,youre not in position to opine about wage slaves and the definitive definition

I was trying to raise the point about feminsim and where that leaves the sahm scottishmummy. If women are to acheive equality then we need to look at the value we place on childcare and the idea that those that don't make an economic contribution in terms of GDP are still equally valued in society

The focus on what was yes maybe a term I used hurriedly has detracted from what are very valid points

It was maybe a poor way of saying - those that work do not necessarily have more value than those that don't and also childcare is a very valuable job. After all someone has to do it

childcare is valuable job yes
sahp is not a job
paid childcare eg cm or nursery is externally moderate,inspected and regulated.and allows parents to work, they pay nursery and cm thus circulating money in economy

looking after your own children is private activity not comparable to job.nor should it attract any financial remuneration

Is voluntary work a job?
Is it merely about pay?
What if a SAHP sees their 'pay' as what would have been spent on childcare from their DP wages?

voluntary work imposes external expectations and tasks.is monitored and in many cases supervised and overseen. expectation of certain behaviors

housewifery/sahm is not subject to external check and balances nor is it inspected or moderated.it is not comparable to job or voluntary work.as it is undertaken solely to that individual standards with no check and balances

getting an allowance from your husband/partner isn't comparable to wage,its pin money.private agreement between two adults

OK, so it isn't just about being paid then. I have done quite a few voluntary jobs with little expectation and supervision.

What I meant was what if there is no allowance but just a joint account both can access freely. If the SAHP sees that wage as half earned by them as they are saving the money from childcare.

In my case, my DH/me would have to pay out a fortune for childcare for 5 DC. Thus i actually save money by being home. Same with not having a second car, work clothes etc. So in my/DH eyes I am making just as important a contribution.

'If women are to acheive equality then we need to look at the value we place on childcare and the idea that those that don't make an economic contribution in terms of GDP are still equally valued in society' agree with addressbook here.

calling money you have not earned your wage.how curious
i suppose people can define it,call it whatever they want.as essentially its a private arrangement between two adults inc management of money accrued by the working partner.or wage slave as was called here. but housewife is most def not a job,and monies exchanged isnt salary

you say you had nominal supervision and expectation as volunteer?at very least did someone set an expectation and role for you that was moitored by someone. you must have been recruited and vetted

i know of volunteers having to have enhanced crb, supervision, and clear role and expectations

when start bandying terms like salary and job about it is about money

The whole 'earning' thing though to me is suspect when people get thousands for kicking a ball. Do they really EARN that money? Is it worth that?

thats a lame comparison.you dont work so how would you get it...presumably you dont mind your dp has to do the suspect activity of earning

footballers et al earn so much because they generate money for the brand and can propel a club up league.higher up league=higher revenue. and bring a lot of entertainment to many.their wage reflects their short career and current revenue they generate

Lame to you maybe, each to their own. Not all wages reflect what people deserve or they generate. Plenty of people make up silly wages. Wages can be changed, the minimum wage changed plenty of people's wages, the economy coped. Many people still work for less than they should even though they generate shedloads for the people up higher. Another point, top footballers often have great TV/managing careers afterwards.

Yes I am happy DH working. He loves his job. I am happy SAH, win win situation. We don't need to involve childcarers etc. My time is valuable, if I don't need to sell it why should I? (I tried working fulltime and it wasn't working for me/DC) Why take a job that someone else may want/need when we can manage perfectly well without? Also, I have time to finish my degree, something I have always wanted to do. Isn't the fact that I can make a choice that makes me/DC/DH happy a good thing? I think it is great that you work if you want to. I think it is great to have a choice and I know that not everybody does whether they want to stay home or work.