Working women ‘contributing to family break-ups’

Women’s increasing economic independence from their male partners is contributing to family break-up which is in turn damaging children, according to a wide-ranging survey into British childhood out today.

More mothers of babies under 12 months old now work than do not and their children are being looked after in childcare rather than by their parents, the report notes.

These two major changes in society have altered the face of childhood and family life in Britain, according to A Good Childhood produced for The Children’s Society.

The report states that "compared with a century ago two changes stand out. First most women now work outside the home and have careers as well as being mothers.

"In Britain 70% of mothers of 9–12 month old babies now do some paid work. This compares with only 25% 25 years ago – a massive change in our way of life. Their children are cared for by someone other than their parents.

"The second change is the rise in family break-up. Women’s new economic independence contributes to this rise: it has made women much less dependent on their male partners as has the advent of the welfare state.

"As a result of family break-up a third of our 16-year-olds now live apart from their biological father."

And the outlook for children whose parents do split up is bleak, according to the report.

"From over 90 studies we know that an average of 50% more children with separated parents have problems than those whose parents have not separated. This is true of a wide range of outcomes.

"Academic achievement, self esteem popularity with other children, behavioural difficulties, anxiety and depression."

In addition, following a break-up children and at least one parent – often the mother – find themselves in poverty, it claims.

But the report argues that the difficulties facing modern children are not caused purely by the family environment.

It points to Unicef figures published in 2007 that show that children in Scandinavian countries – where rates of family break-up are similar to the UK – are happier than British children.

The report criticises the lack of support in Britain for families and call for parenting classes, psychological support when relationships come under strain and more help when children develop behavioural problems.

The authors also suggest the development of a civil ceremony for new babies to offer an alternative to a christening service for non-religious parents.

They say that parents and the community would benefit from an opportunity to make public vows about their commitment to supporting the child.

A spokesman for Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "The Government welcomes the Children’s Society’s report which is seeking a balanced debate on what makes for a good childhood today.

"The report mirrors the ambitious plan for improving children’s lives and outcomes we set out in our Children’s Plan, which aims to give every child the best chance in life, and we are pleased that the review acknowledges the positive impact that the Children’s Plan is already having on children’s lives.

"We know there are still risks and challenges ahead for children and parents and that there is more for us all to do. But as the report points out, in many ways our children have never lived so well – children are more educated, less sick, and more tolerant, and the Government is working hard to invest, help and support children and their families to make Britain the best place in the world to grow up.

"Over the last 10 years, we have made much progress to tackle under investment and low aspirations in early years, schools, colleges and other services for children.

"Since 1997, the number of registered childcare places has more than doubled so that there is now a registered childcare place for one in every four children under eight and there are almost 3,000 children’s centres.

"Standards in schools have risen across the board, with results at ages 11, 14, 16 and 19 now at or about their highest ever levels, and there are far fewer low performing schools, and more young people than ever before going on to university.

"The number of children in relative poverty has fallen by 600,000 and teenage pregnancy rates are at their lowest level for 20 years; and as a result of Every Child Matters, local areas have begun to change the way they manage their services for children and young people."

(Source: Mental Health Foundation UK: February 2009)