When given a hypothetical choice between homemaking and working outside the home, more than half of Americans would choose to work outside the home. While women are more likely than men to choose domesticity over the office, half of them would prefer the latter over homemaking, according to a recent Gallup poll.

 

Overall, more than half of Americans (58 percent) stated that they would prefer to have a job outside the home, versus over a third (37 percent) who stated they would rather practice traditional homemaking.

 

When looking back over the last few years of the poll, men and women demonstrated opposite patterns. When Gallup presented a hypothetical scenario in which respondents were “free to do either” stay home or work outside, nearly one in three men stated they would prefer to stay home (29 percent). This is the highest number of men that have chosen that route since 2001 (24 percent). However, the large majority of men have consistently chosen to work outside the home, though that number has declined (73 percent in 2001 versus 68 percent today).

 

Women demonstrate a reverse trend, though there have been variations. In 2001, more than half of women chose working outside the home (53 percent), a choice which reached a low point in 2005 (42 percent), and has shot back up to half today (50 percent).

 

The last time a significant majority of women favored the home over outside work, it was 1974, when 60 percent of respondents said they would prefer keeping house and home over an outside career path.

 

Rosemary Harris, communications coordinator for 9to5 National Association of Working Women, dedicated to defeating the obstacles faced by women in the workplace, offers her perspective on the shift in lifestyle choice.

 

There are “probably many reasons” why more women are choosing to work outside the home, but the top reason, Harris tells demo dirt, is that “there have been some movements that have been successful in terms of pay equity for women.”

 

Citing improved benefits as a reason behind more women choosing the workplace, Harris explained that when weighing the value of benefits, both emotional and practical issues like pay and health care factor equally in one’s level of satisfaction. “They are related. You are happy if you are rewarded for what you do, if you gain a sense of greater inclusion, knowing that you can grow, move up, and earn the same amount of money as the person sitting next to you—even if that person happens to be a man.”

 

Does having school-age children make an impact on lifestyle choice? The Gallup poll found that there was no significant difference in desire to stay home between parents of school-age children versus those without, though the former preferred staying home by a very slight margin. Just over half of women without school-age kids preferred outside work over staying home (52 percent versus 43 percent), while just under half of women with school-age children preferred working outside (45 percent) over homemaking (48 percent).

 

Harris explains that when there is less equity for working women, they are more likely to want to stay home. “There is a sense that, [a working woman will say] ‘If I wasn’t earning all the rewards I may as well stay home with the children, where at least I am appreciated.’ However, lots of factors influence that decision, including the ability to afford quality day care.”

 

Though strides have been made, the goal for equal pay is far from realized.  “Nationally, women still earn about 74.5 cents for every dollar that a white man earns. Latina women earn even less—54.6 cents for every dollar earned by a white man,” Harris points out.

 

However, there still exists the possibility of an emerging trend. “There have been strides in achieving pay equity and awareness, and raising consciousness of employers. As pay equity efforts close the gap, as we equalize benefits for women in the workplace, we will see more women prefer to work outside the home, “ Harris states.

 

To find out more about 9to5’s mission to help women in the workplace and how you can participate, go to www.9to5.org.