Finnish Mothers’ Assessments of the Harmfulness of Childcare at Home on Occupational Careers: A Comparison of Twelve European Countries

Sirpa Weckström

doi:10.3390/socsci4041140

Abstract

It is generally believed that long periods of childcare at home deteriorate mothers’ occupational careers. This study examined mothers’ experiences regarding negative career consequences of full-time care of children at home, and of part-time work due to childcare. The focus was on Finland, a country that provides all mothers a financially compensated, longer-term childcare leave linked with unrestricted access to day care services. Experiences of Finnish mothers were compared with experiences of mothers in 11 other European countries. The data were based on European Social Survey (ESS) round 2, conducted in 2004 and 2005. In all of the studied countries, the majority of mothers assessed that taking care of children at home had not harmed their occupational careers. There was, however, a clear cross-country variation. Perceived career consequences for both types of care at home were least common in Finland. In most of the investigated countries, longer times spent with children at home increased the probability to perceive negative career consequences. In Finland, the difference was relatively small. Thus, as long as the focus is on mothers’ perceptions, the longer-term childcare leave does not seem to markedly deteriorate Finnish mothers’ careers.

Highlights

During the last few decades, as a result of prolonged family leaves, the possibilities for working mothers to stay at home with their newborn children have improved in many European countries [1], Soc
Payments targeted to families that do not enrol their children in public day care have been associated as having negative effects on individuals with respect to their labour market position and potential for career progression
Perceived negative career consequences were least common in Finland, despite the long average time mothers had spent at home

Summary

Introduction

During the last few decades, as a result of prolonged family leaves, the possibilities for working mothers to stay at home with their newborn children have improved in many European countries [1], Soc. Sci. At the same time, influenced by, e.g., globalization and the growing importance of market principles in public sector organizations (e.g., [2,3]), demands faced by employees have increased In many cases, this means that in order to cope with increased competition, an employee should constantly update her skills and knowledge base. This study focuses on self-assessed consequences of time spent with children at home on mothers’ occupational careers. Despite debates in Europe regarding family leave opportunities and, in particular, the ways that mothers’ careers are affected by various leave durations, perceptions of mothers have rarely been examined

Results

Discussion

Conclusion