Mom and dad are trying to make it (to) work

For the first time ever, a majority of two-parent households in the US (52%) feature both mom and dad collecting full-time paychecks, according to a new Pew Research Center report. Mothers with bachelor’s and post-graduate degrees are increasingly reshaping the breadwinning dynamics.

Women are earning more college degrees than men, which has helped drive up the number of households with two parents working full time from 46% a decade ago (and 31% in 1975). The survey of 2,242 working parents, which excluded same-sex couples because the sample size was too small, revealed how two incomes can help—and challenge—childcare responsibilities:

• Seventy percent said parenting-related tasks are handled during work time (e.g., changing a diaper during a Zoom call).
• Fifty-nine percent said work-related tasks are handled while with their children (e.g., converting a PDF at a piano recital).
• Fifty-four percent said it’s difficult to balance work and family tasks (the other 46%, presumably, were lying).

As one mom told Pew: “I’m supposed to work like I don’t have kids and supposed to parent like I don’t have a job.”

Despite the agita, 83% still see swimming in two paychecks as a positive.

WFH FTW: Only 24% of respondents said they have “a lot” of flexibility to telework. Most said having that as an option would be extremely or very helpful.—DL