Moms With Jobs More Likely to Raise Rich Daughters, Dutiful Sons

Having studied 50,000 children of career women in 24 countries, researchers at Harvard Business School found that daughters of 'working' mothers are more successful than daughters of home-makers. Data from two International Social Survey Programme surveys in 2002 and 2012, as well as local surveys, found consistent results, according to globalnews.

"Daughters of mothers who worked outside of the home for pay, at any point before their daughter was 14 years old, are more likely to be employed, more likely to hold supervisory responsibility," said Professor Kathleen McGinn from Harvard Business School. "They earn higher income on average if they're employed, and they spend fewer hours engaged in household work every week."

Even though mothers who work outside the home feel guilty about putting their children in other people's care and heading to work for various reasons, researchers explain that 'working mothers' are positive role models for their daughters.

"I love what I do," said Dr. Melanie Chryssafis, busy at work at her chiropractic practice. Being a mother of two, she feels that she sets a good example for her children. "I definitely think it's important for me to show them that I can be successful in my career and at home as well."

Children under 14 who were exposed to mothers who worked at part-time or full-time jobs for at least a year grow up with more "egalitarian gender views" as adults, according to cnn.

Beth Yarzab, a career and fitness coach, would like to help women to strike a work-life balance. She explained that she wants to counsel that women could feel compelled to set a financial example for their kids.

"It's really important for most of my clients to show their kids that mommy is contributing to the household income. That mommy is part of something bigger outside of the house."

The study found that on average, daughter of women who 'worked' earned 23 per cent more.

"It doesn't say employed moms are better moms or that their children are somehow more satisfied or happy children," said McGinn. "What it says is that employed moms are modelling a way, a different way, to be involved in the world."

Looking at cultural differences, the study discovered that working mothers helped their children to be successful and reflect better views of gender equality.

Hence, while the girls do a good job of working outside their home, their sons also tend to become better partners, as they pitch in to share more housework and childcare responsibilities!