The Ranks of Stay-at-Home Moms Growing Rapidly in US
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Stockbyte/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — About three in 10 mothers in the U.S. are stay-at-home moms, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.
Although far from the time decades ago when a single income in a two-parent home might suffice and more women were housewives than in the work force, the number of women who’ve opted to stay home to raise kids under 18 has grown from 23 percent in 1999 to 29 percent in 2012.
Pew says this is largely driven by the increase in Hispanic and Asian populations in the U.S. For instance, 38 percent of Hispanic mothers and 36 percent of Asian mothers are stay-at-home moms. About a quarter of white mothers are in this category.
Pew also points out that a third of stay-at-home mothers live in poverty and just over half don’t have a high school diploma.
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