ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that evidence relating to the impact which their withdrawal from childcare may be having on their effectiveness as mothers and on parents' ability to enjoy their children. For all the dual-earners, the problems of combining parenting with employment led to immense pressures and conflict, as well as shortage of time in which to accomplish anything. Child outcomes are dependent on parental attitudes, parental behaviour, family structure and other aspects of the home environment, including work patterns, as well as upon the nature of the child and the care provided while parents are away. A long sequence of well conducted studies shows how infants from all classes and family backgrounds are significantly more likely to have insecure and disturbed relationships with their parents where there is extensive non-maternal care. In turn, children of mothers in full-time manual or non-manual employment, and those who had recently left employment, had higher anti-social behaviour.
