What Mothers Want Today and Every Day : Actually, both men and women would like more family time

To work or not to work is hardly an option for many women to consider on this Mother’s Day. But to have more time to spend with their families without having to give up a needed paycheck is uppermost in the minds of a great many American women.

Time is the most precious commodity these days not only for working women but for men. A new study by Louis Harris and Associates for the Families and Work Institute and the Whirlpool Foundation indicates that society is beyond the old debate of whether women should or should not work: Their earnings are now a crucial part of many family incomes. The study, “Women: The New Providers,” showed that 55% of working women generate half or more of household income, while 18% say they are the sole earners.

The big challenge now, say the women polled, is to better balance their roles as nurturers and providers. That, however, does not mean giving up jobs or careers but rather finding ways to be more productive and to create work environments that can be better adapted to their needs. The study showed that 56% of the women want more flexibility in job structures and work hours without having to lose benefits, such as insurance coverage. That desire transcends gender. About one-third of both women and men would work part-time if they could afford to do so, the poll indicated.

The new realities of the American family thus require political and employment policies that better address the needs of workers. Some companies and managers are reforming work policies, but these remain far too uncommon. Indeed, more than one-fourth of women polled cited the lack of time for family as their greatest domestic concern, even surpassing concerns about neighborhood crime and safety.

The “time famine”is a problem for men too. Asked whether they would prefer more time or more money, women and men were remarkably similar in their answers: 44% of the women went for the time and 50% for money, while 48% of men wanted more time and 49% more money.

The need to create flexibility on the job is important not only for women and men but for their children and other family members. Nearly nine out of 10 women surveyed believe that their daughters will assume the dual roles of mother-nurturer and wage earner. The majority of women also believe their sons will expect the same of women. Freeing up time so that families can enjoy the spirit of Mother’s Day more often is good public policy.