Balancing ACT: Motherhood, Marriage, and Employment Among American Women

by Daphne Spain and Suzanne Bianchi

"A wonderful compendium of everything you always wanted to know about trends in women's roles--both in and out of the home. It is a balanced and data-rich assessment of how far women have come and how far they still have to go. "--Isabelle Sawhill, Urban Institute "Based primarily on the 1990 population census, Balancing Act reports on the current situation of American women and temporal and cross-national comparisons. Meticulously and clearly presented, the information in this book highlights changing behaviors, such as the growing incidence of childbearing to older women, and unmarried women in general, and a higher ratio of women's earnings to men's. The authors' thoughtful analysis of these and other factors involved in women's fin de si cle 'balancing act' make this an indispensable reference book and valuable classroom resource." --Louise A. Tilly, Michael E. Gellert Professor of History and Sociology, The New School for Social Research In Balancing Act, authors Daphne Spain and Suzanne Bianchi draw upon multiple census and survey sources to detail the shifting conditions under which women manage their roles as mothers, wives, and breadwinners. They chronicle the progress made in education--where female college enrollment now exceeds that of males--and the workforce, where women have entered a wider variety of occupations and are staying on the job longer, even after becoming wives and mothers. But despite progress, lower-paying service and clerical positions remain predominantly female, and although the salary gap between men and women has shrunk, women are still paid less. As women continue to establish a greater presence outside the home, many have delayed marriage and motherhood. Marked jumps in divorce and out-of-wedlock childbirth have given rise to significant numbers of female-headed households. Married women who work contribute more significantly than ever to the financial well-being of their families, yet evidence shows that they continue to perform most household chores. Balancing Act focuses on how American women juggle the simultaneous demands of caregiving and wage earning, and compares their options to those of women in other countries. The United States is the only industrialized nation without policies to support working mothers and their families--most tellingly in the absence of subsidized childcare services. Many women are forced to work in less rewarding part-time or traditionally female jobs that allow easy exit and re-entry, and as a consequence poverty is the single greatest danger facing American women. As the authors show, the risk of poverty varies significantly by race and ethnicity, with African Americans--most of whose children live in mother-only families--the most adversely affected. This volume contributes to the national dialogue about family policy, welfare reform, and responsibility for children by highlighting the pivotal roles women play at the intersection of family and work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0871548151
• ISBN13: 9780871548153
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: Russell Sage Foundation
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Well-organized and accessible with usable charts and tables.

Spain and Bianchi draw upon multiple government census and public survey sources for their report and conclusions. Numerous tables, graphs and charts detail the shifting conditions under which American women manage their roles as mothers, wives, and breadwinners. Each chapter explores both topic and subtopics and addresses racial and ethnic comparisons. Additionally, comparisons among industrialized countries are also provided. The book is well-organized and accessible, written in understandable language. Chapter notes and a thorough list of references provide the reader with additional resources. This resource is recommended for Diversity Managers, Benefits Personnel, policy-makers, researchers and students. The reader with high interests in the status of women of color will be grateful for the helpful summary inclusion, but may wish for more thorough representation in the report and in the illustrations.