More mothers in the U.S. are staying home to raise their children than in 2000, an unusual rise documented in a new survey from the Pew Research Center. But the increase to 29 percent, from a low of 23 percent 14 years ago, doesn't mean women are putting their outside careers on hold en masse. And the ones who are, through choice or necessity, aren't the "opt-out" moms fussed over in the media.
In fact, stay-at-home moms (SAHMs, colloquially) are typically younger, poorer, and less-educated than mothers who work outside of the home; almost half aren't white, and a third immigrated to the U.S.:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Celebrating 60 years of the Pennine WayThe Week Recommends This beautiful long-distance path immerses walkers in the beautiful British countryside
-
To ban or not to ban AfD? German democracy at a crossroadsTalking Point Germany's domestic intelligence agency has officially designated the country's main opposition party a right-wing extremist group
-
How did Kashmir end up largely under Indian control?The Explainer The bloody and intractable issue of Kashmir has flared up once again
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
