Publisher's Synopsis
This lecture reviews the findings of two decades' research on three ways in which women's work and the reproduction of the population are related and the difference which is made to each relationship by the level of women's education. How do children affect women's paid work, and lifetime earnings? How does women's employment affect the 'quantity' of children born? How do women's education and employment affect the 'quality' of children, as assessed by indicators of their development? Professor Joshi finds that while child rearing may halve lifetime earnings for some women the well educated are less affected. Child development benefits from maternal education, and suffers little from maternal employment. However, there is a widening gulf between mothers, tending to polarize the life-chances of their children. All families could benefit from more options on how to combine employment and child rearing, and there is a particular need for good quality childcare for those who cannot afford the market price. Education is a powerful influence, but does not alone solve all issues of equity, between families or between genders. The renewal and development of the next generation in the family should be seen as worthy of public appreciation and support - a venture in which government, employers, schools and parents, and indeed children, could do well to work together.
