THE EFFECTS OF MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT ON CHILDREN *

SUMMARY Various effects of maternal employment on infants, preschool children, school age children and adolescents were reviewed. The importance of differential effects according to sex and social class was noted, although many studies by failing to control for these variables may have obscured effects. Adequate substitute care is important in alleviating possible ill effects, and satisfaction of the mother whether or not she works, is crucial in determining effects. Future work should deal more with additional processes which may mediate effects of maternal employment. Neglected mediators which might be studied further include the cultural milieu, maternal characteristics such as achievement motivation and sex‐role typing, and the family interaction process, including the husband's attitude toward the wife's work.