At the World Congress of Families IX, Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy, Chelsen Vicari, expressed that the media promotes false perspectives about women. "Lifetime television and magazines taught me that having it all looked like this high-rise powerful career and office, brunch on Sunday, getting to sleep in because you don't have children on Saturdays. It looked like independence and liberation. It did not look like family "¦ I was taught by my feminist professors, television, [and] books that enslavement of women truly looked like a family." This idea pervades our society today. However, many assumptions about stay-at-home parents are nothing more than that — assumptions. These statistics may surprise you.
Stay-at-home parents are worth $112,962 a year
More than anything, stay-at-home moms feel most judged about not contributing to their family's finances. However, with all the laundry, driving, child care, cooking, entertaining, cleaning, etc. that a mother does, her approximate yearly salary would add up to $112,962. Compare that to $39,157 — what the average woman working outside the home earns every year. In other words, your work is paying off.
The number of stay-at-home moms is increasing
Since 1967, the amount of moms who choose to stay at home has been on the decline. However, after reaching an all-time low in 1999, over the last decade the amount of women choosing to stay at home with their children has increased.
The number of stay-at-home dads is also increasing
In the United States there are over two million stay-at-home dads. While this number only represents 7 percent of all dads, it is up from 4 percent in 1989. This increase is partly attributed to the fact that more fathers want to care for their family.
Stay-at-home parenting is valued
Many stay-at-home parents feel stigmatized for their decision. So it may be surprising that even though the number of stay-at-home parents isn't incredibly high, the majority of Americans believe that it's best for kids to have a parent at home.
