The Effects of Parenthood on the Career Orientation and Job Characteristics of Young Adults

Scholars of sex differentials in attainment in the labor market have long looked to the effect of the division of labor in the family--especially childbearing and rearing--as 1 of these source differentials. This paper assesses the effects of 1st birth on the career orientation and job characteristics of young adult males and females using data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972. It examines the hypothesis that those who become parents differ in their views of work even prior to the pregnancy that produces the 1st birth and that parenthood produces changes in career orientation over and above those existing before. The authors also examine the average job characteristics of employed mothers and fathers to assess changes in these around the 1st birth. Results show that mothers differ from nonmothers in several key respects prior to the pregnancy and that the 1st birth results in further changes. For men there is no evidence of initial differences between those who become fathers and those who do not and the authors find effects of parenthood only for general career expectations. (authors modified)