Full Citation

Title: Less Help for Mother: The Decline in Female Support for the Mothers of Small Children, 1880-2000

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2005

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: Research on changes in women's parenting has focused primarily on their increased likelihood of combining parenthood with paid employment, exploring the pressures that result from this "second shift" or "double burden." This paper complements this approach by focusing instead on the reduction in the help mothers of small children have received as the declines in co-residence of non-nuclear adults, and in fertility, have reduced the number of other women in the household. Using individual-level census data from the period 1880 to 2000, we show a substantial decline in the presence and availablility of other women in the household, as fewer are coresident, and of those who are, more are working or in school. Although all mothers experience this decline, it is most acute for mothers working for pay in nonagriculutral activities.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Short, Susan E.; Torr, Berna Miller; Goldscheider, Frances K.

Series Title:

Publication Number:

Institution: Brown University

Pages:

Publisher Location:

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage, Labor Force and Occupational Structure

Countries: