Girlboss and “tradwife” content dominate social media, but a lot of mothers with small children don’t fit either category. They prefer something in the middle: to work part-time, come in and out of the workforce, or take on roles with maximum flexibility. Research from the Institute for Family Studies found that 40% of married mothers with children under 5 prefer part-time work, with 39% preferring full-time work, and 20% preferring not to work.
Modern married mothers embrace the messy middle. Our policies and culture should too.
Dillon Burroughs, The Christian Post
John Stonestreet, Andrew Carico, Breakpoint
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© 2026 Institute for Family Studies
© 2026 Institute for Family Studies
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