Following the invention of time-saving housekeeping devices, housewives now can save a lot of time from completing chores. It has been proposed that women should utilise this time to work while mothering their children. In this way, it brings extra incomes to the household; however, such a burden can be overwhelming and might not be worth it.
Economically, mothers earning additional cash flow can bring substantial benefits to their families. By having multiple sources of income, the family will be more robust against financial instability. A supporting evidence that research on this situation noted parents with sustainable wealth will face less risk of developing mental illness, such as anxiety; as a consequence, a working mother will improve the entire family’s well-being. Besides family, financial independence also empowers women on a social aspect. Traditionally, the father in a family is more respected than others, mainly because the household relies heavily on his financial contribution. For this reason, if mothers can also act as the provider, it will largely elevate their hierarchy in their families, earning them equivalent respect. Furthermore, this can also assist the advancement of general equality.
On the other hand, despite the merits, for women with children, achieving work-life balance can be challenging. Statistics show even when both of the partners have full-time employment, the woman still tends to do more chores than the man. As a result, women who are obligated to take dual responsibilities will have no rest after work and housekeeping, leading them to extreme exhaustion. Such a high level of fatigue is harmful to their physical and psychological health. Therefore, if the father doesn’t provide adequate support, for the mother, having a career generates disadvantages outweighing its advantages.
In conclusion, letting more women participate in workplace can yield many desirable outcomes. More importantly, it is also the father’s duty to maintain a successful family while the mother is working.