The results may surprise you. Today's young women are groomed throughout their education to expect to pursue a career, and our popular culture reinforces that message at seemingly every turn. Sixty-three percent of parents surveyed by Public Agenda disagreed with the idea that a ''top notch'' daycare center can provide care as good or better than a child will receive at home. We're supposed to believe it's just as good as Mom at home, and that parents don't worry too much about it. And of course we're all supposed to believe these days that a Mom's place is in the factory or office.
Attitudes are one thing.
Actions, however, are quite another. In 1960, only 20 percent of mothers of young children worked outside the home. Public Agenda has studied many issues where Americans say individuals should be personally responsible for their actions, but where they often fail to follow through,'' the report says. In focus groups, Public Agenda found many parents putting children before careers, bigger houses and fancy new cars. Researchers also found parents willing to work split shifts that are hard on family life in order to make sure one parent or the other always is at home.