Gender Study on Working and Stay-at-home Mothers - Research Paper Example

? Gender Study on Working and Stay-at-home Mothers Gender refers to the identification of persons in relation to theculture of their geographical region. The article concerns itself with what brings about the differences between working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. It also brings out the existing classification of mothers (that is, working mothers and stay-at-home mothers). In addition, it portrays the effects of gender in the society. Further, it denotes the perception of children towards the differences existing between their parents. Working mothers This refers to mothers who associate themselves with various income generating activities. They have lesser dependence on either their spouses or their parents. They involve both the married working mothers and single working mothers. They dedicate much of their time to work living only few hours to be with their families. Some ambiguous questions emerge from some individuals as to why, when, and what their intention is behind them (mothers) working (Lippa 2005). One of the main reasons behind mothers working for pay is to be independent. Another reason may be their (working mothers’) desire to live a live where they have total control of their finances. In addition, the work of mothers does not end up at work. More than half of the total number of working moms are those with families. Therefore, it is their (moms) obligation to hurry from work to home to provide for their families. Further, they have some customary duties to perform at their homes. For instance, they must get home earlier before their husbands so that they make several preparations concerning their meals. They also have to know the progress of their children. On the side of single working mothers, they find themselves having a full responsibility at home. They must strive to make ends meet, as they also have to avail the commodities the children require. Some children demand their mothers to provide for their necessities, which may be costly. Therefore, there is a need for single mothers to work harder to earn enough for their expenditure. They should ensure there is a surplus in their accounts. This means that they should make better calculations concerning their income and total expenses. Further, they need to make several adjustments on the total expenses. Through this, they will be able to manage their family requirements, as they eliminate the tertiary demands. In addition, single-working mothers have an extra task of time management. They search for ways of creating more time to deal with personal issues. Bearing in mind that they are the families’ sole breadwinner, they ensure they work towards the success of their business operations. They also make a good choice when it comes to friendship. They choose friends who are hard working and those who motivate other people not to despair in their work. The success of single mothers is a great joy to their families. They also bring to light less efforts for handling a family. This is a great encouragement to the single mothers not at work. Thereafter, they have an appraising hand from the entire society. Stay-at-home mothers A Housewife is another name referring to a stay-at-home mother. Most of their work is within the homestead. They do not get any remuneration for the tasks they undertake. Their main work is to ensure that they raise their kids and control their families. Stay-at-home mothers perform many tasks each day. They act as their children’s instructors, first aiders, doctors, and nannies. Some mothers are also the chefs of their homes and their children’s playmate. Further, they have a total control on the finances they use everyday. If they would require any pay, they may earn more than those working outside the homestead may earn. This is in respect to the different tasks they perform. They decide to be housewives because of their husbands’ potential to provide for the families. Difference between working mothers and stay-at-home mothers a) Relationship with their families Today, working mothers tend to have more stress than stay-at-home mothers do. This results from the long working hours at work places. They have less time to stay and communicate with their families. They further need to ensure they provide and prepare meals to their families. On the other hand, stay-at-home mothers have enough time with their families. They perform the household chores in good time. They establish a continuous relationship with their families and have better communication with other family members. This is because they do not suffer much from work fatigue. b) Independent characteristic The independence of women depends on either marriage or the work that she carries out. Stay-at-home mothers depend on their spouses for most of their requirements. Working mothers are by some means independent, as they earn. From their salaries, they purchase what they require and contribute some amount to the sustenance of their family needs. However, most of the single mothers are fully independent. This is due to the reason that they are their families’ sole providers. They take complete control of the family activities. According to tradition, women should be submissive to the males in the society. Contrary, working mothers are less likely to show much respect on men because of their independent trait. c) Aggressiveness In nature, men appear to be hostile thane women do due of various reasons. For instance, Edwards, Wattenberg & Lineberry 2005 men’s mandate to control the families result to their hostility. However, many women dislike violence, as it leads to damages and an extra cost they incur replacement. In the past, men would punish their women accordingly as regards to the mistake that they (women) would do. Today, there are laws put in place favoring women in the society. There is also a reduction in discrimination, as the societies have undergone a number of compulsory changes. There are some violent mothers but only in different circumstances. They only impose punishment when necessary. d) Role model Children lack the ability to make proper judgments between hopeful and hopeless parents. According to an interview on how parents should behave, some children give the following answers. Some think that mothers who are always available are what they aspire to be in the future. A number of girls view stay-at-home mothers as caring. Others say working mothers are the best since they have what they require for their expenditures. However, boys view violent fathers as the best because they gain respect from other family members. The battle between working and non-working mothers The rival between working moms and stay-at-homer moms is due to various distinguishing activities. The amount of work depends on the ability to complete the tasks (Williams 2010). Hence, those working at home have more tasks to perform. It is unfortunate that mothers working outside their homes think they perform many tasks. In their, offices, they carry out routine work, which can rarely come to completion. In addition, married working moms do get some assistance from their husbands. Stay-at-home mothers will never get this advantage. Their spouses only expect to find everything ready, and the house to be in order. On the other hand, single mothers encounter more work mysteries. Despite working mothers opting to become stay-at-home-moms, single mothers have the urge to continue working (Valenti 2008). People believe that single moms will soon be living in poverty, as there is acceleration in their number. It is evident that working mothers and stay-at-home mothers perform different tasks. It is also vital to note that custom of a particular place dictates the behavior of women and men in the region. The behavior of their children results from the way mothers bring them up. Mothers should educate their children on the significance of showing respect to other people in the society. Edwards, Wattenberg & Lineberry (2005) state that mothers (whether working or staying at home) should look after their families and ensure they prosper in all activities. References Edwards, G. C., Wattenberg, M. P., & Lineberry, R. I. (2005). Government in America: People, politics, and policy. New York [u.a.: Pearson Longman Lippa, R. A. (2005). Gender, nature, and nurture. Mahwah, NJ [u.a.: Erlbaum. Valenti, J. (2008). He's a stud, she's a slut and 49 other double standards every woman should know. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press. Williams, J. (2010). Reshaping the work-family debate: Why men and class matter. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Read More