The Results from the Pew Report Were Not Earth Shattering
It's somewhat surprising that the
Pew Research report has generated so much comment. First, statistics can be spun to tell almost
any story that you want. As someone once said, “there are three types of lies—lies,
damned lies and statistics”. Second, the
statistics reported did not indicate that “women have taken over” and
definitely did not indicate, “the end of men”. From a statistical perspective,
40% isn't a majority. So it’s not like the majority of homes have women who
out earn their partners. Indeed, they included single parent households in the
statistic, which skews the data somewhat. In some ways, this report is the equivalent of
Chicken Little running around and saying that the sky is falling.
So why the buzz???
Still, it is news. And here is
why.
Even if you account for the single moms, there has been a huge increase in the percentage of households that have working moms as the primary breadwinner and that has gotten people nervous. Also, during the same time period, the divorce has risen as well as the percentage of single mother, never married households. The trend, as opposed to the report, is what is noteworthy. And I suspect Pew Research skewed the headline to force this particular conversation.
Even if you account for the single moms, there has been a huge increase in the percentage of households that have working moms as the primary breadwinner and that has gotten people nervous. Also, during the same time period, the divorce has risen as well as the percentage of single mother, never married households. The trend, as opposed to the report, is what is noteworthy. And I suspect Pew Research skewed the headline to force this particular conversation.
They could have very easily
released a report that said, “Nearly Fifty Years After the Passage of the Civil
Rights Act, Fathers Remain Primary Breadwinners in Sixty Percent of all Households”. That headline would have promoted an entirely
different conversation.
Many Americans are in denial about the reality of family life
In our minds, we live in 1950s
America where men earn the money, women maintain the home and children play
freely outside on a perfectly manicured lawn. Most of us recognize that
many mothers work and some fathers are the primary caregiver. However, we like to view
that as the exception as opposed to the rule. Indeed, nearly 70% of mothers with children work outside the home in some capacity. Even though 40% does not represent a majority of households,
this report illustrates that we have a new normal. A lot of children are growing up in homes where mom is
carrying the financial burden. And that, apparently, is news.
It makes conservatives
in particular nervous, in places we don’t speak about. It clearly defies the
notion that women are the weaker sex.
Where having babies is distinctly female, making money used to be
distinctly male. There is a fear that if women make their own money men will have
nothing to contribute.
I am not concerned that this
statistic indicates the jeopardy of the American family. Women in my family
have always worked and our family is still standing. I am not concerned about
the “end of men”, I am certain that they will be fine, they always have been. I
am also not encouraged that women are taking over. Based on what I have seen at
work and by looking at the Fortune 500 CEOs, we have got a long way to go baby.
What I am concerned about is the working mom…
A follow up post will appear on
this topic in this blog tomorrow. Also, tune in to PCNC Night Talk this evening
to learn more about my thoughts on this topic.
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