Economy Sends Women Back to Work

By Sarah Matheny on September 22nd, 2009

I am a woman of privilege. I don’t carry a Hermes handbag. I don’t wear Seven jeans with my Jimmy Choos. I don’t drive a Mercedes. But in a time when many women who had the option of staying home to raise a family are being pushed back into the workforce, I have the luxury of being able to stay home with my kids.

The trend of former SAHMs becoming working moms goes somewhat against logic: a poor economy means less jobs. However, in the last two years, the number of women ages 18-44 looking for work is up 3%, while the number of men in the same age group is down 1%.

As a result, many women with prestigious degrees, some work experience and plenty of “mommy” experience are taking temp work or jobs that they are clearly overqualified for, merely to assist with their family’s growing financial burdens. At times this is due to their husbands being laid off or taking pay cuts, and for others it’s because the value of their family’s investments have plummeted.

When I opted to leave my career as an attorney five years ago, I knew I was going to have to give up some of the luxuries my working life had afforded me. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make to ensure that I was going to be the primary caregiver to my child, rather than a daycare worker or nanny. While we’ve tightened our belts a bit, we are still comfortable enough, for now. Still, at times I can’t help but think that the value of my degree, my license to practice law and, I’m not afraid to admit, my talents may be being squandered. However, each day I spend with my kids is one day less I have to watch them grow up, to guide them and help them become strong, intelligent young women. That is a job, no matter how little I am paid, that I take very seriously.