We start with mothers:

More than 40 percent of mothers today are the sole or primary breadwinner in the family.
Nearly all of the rise in average household income since 1970 has come from increases in female earnings. Had women's income not increased, the average household income would be $13,000 lower today.
Despite the advances, women still only make 77 percent as much as men.

The role of fathers has been changing as well:

More fathers report helping out with household tasks. The percentage who say they change diapers, for instance, increased from 82 percent in 2002 to 95 percent in 2010.
Fathers in 2012 reported spending an average of 38.5 hours a week on paid work, down from 42 in 1965.
In the past 50 years, the number of hours per week the average fathers spend on childcare has increased from 2.5 to 7.
The time they report spending on housework has doubled, from 4.4 hours per week to 8.8.

Both mothers and fathers are reporting more work/family conflicts than in the past. Between 1977 and 2008, the percentage of fathers who said they experienced such conflicts rose from 35 percent to 60 percent. Among mothers, the percentage rose less dramatically, from 40 percent to 47 percent.

Instant Insights /

Happy Working Parents Day!

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