by Carol Gioia

Created on: April 12, 2008   Last Updated: July 20, 2008

Working mothers raise working daughters is an inaccurate generalization of the behavior of women. The statement is presented often enough to classify as an erroneous myth propagated in attempted efforts to discern understanding of mothers and daughters.

Whether a daughter grows up and goes into the workforce or becomes a full time homemaker is not predetermined by the road her mother traveled. Life circumstances dictate a woman's decision to combine the roles of homemaker and working woman. Working mothers simply role model for their daughters that doing a good job of both is possbile.

Many daughters grow up watching the angst their mothers experience when not able to be in two places at once. These daughters often determine in their mind that when the time comes they will not put themselves in the position of being guilt ridden about not being there for their children. Because "life is what happens when we are making other plans," their dream of being a full time mom may be shattered by the reality of financial hardship. They will suddenly find themselves in their "mother's shoes."

The economic climate of the times is the ruling factor when a woman makes the choice to simultaneously take on the two major life roles of mother and working woman. For some women there is no debate involved in the decision; family financial well being leaves no room for personal choice.

All mothers strive to raise their daughters to be independent and self sufficient. They also attempt to instill a good work ethic through example. It is no secret that stay at home mothers work as hard, if not harder, than their working counterparts. The difference is the level of compensation, which for stay at home mothers is zero. Girls catch on to this irony of life at an early age.

Most girls nowadays experience their mothers in both roles at one time or another. Many women alternate working and staying home to correlate with their family's needs. What daughters learn from their mothers is that women will do whatever it takes to insure the health and well being of their family. Sometimes that means being on the homefront; other times it can mean working for that second paycheck.

Girls from single parent families see only one side of the coin, but they know the other side is potentially available to them, depending on their adult life circumstance. They learn from their mothers to be capable and willing to fulfill the roles of homemaker and breadwinner should the need arise.

Working women are often

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