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Working Women: Healthier, Happier

Women's Health Better Than Ever, Even Better Than Men's

By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Health News

Aug. 14, 2004 -- Working women: The headaches are worth it. By having it all, you're giving yourself better health, a new study shows.

Flash back to the 1970s, when women were clawing their way toward equal opportunity. Things have improved: There are more working women today. In fact, they're working way past the 40-hour week. Plus, many are raising young children.

Evidently, they're handling it well. Women's health is better than in the 1970s, says Jason Schnittker, PhD, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He is presenting his findings at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association.

“It is by now clear that women’s employment... did much to close the long-standing gender gaps in physical health and, especially, psychological distress,” Schnittker writes. “Many of these positive changes continue today. Women’s employment rates continue to climb, women are seeking college diplomas at much higher rates; and women are entering the professions more frequently than in the past.”

But is women’s health threatened by having it all? Little research to date has examined the effects of the “time bind” caused when women combine work with family. Is having it all a good thing or not? That’s what his study examines.

Schnittker's snapshot is drawn from a nationwide sampling of nearly 16,000 women and 21,000 men between ages 18 and 80. He asked men and women to rate their health as “poor,” “fair,” “good,” or “excellent.” He also factored in their work schedules, education, marital status, and job level.

Among his findings:

In 2000, 60% of the women were working, compared with 40% in 1974.
Nearly three times as many women -- 16% -- are working more than 40 hours a week as in 1974.
More women with young children (under age 6) are working full-time: 7% in 2000, compared with 4% in 1974.

"Americans are working longer hours, and they're more stressed than ever before," Schnittker tells WebMD. "The husband is working full-time, the wife is working full-time, and they are often raising a child."

However, equal opportunity has not yet knocked on the couple's front door. Women still do the lion's share of housework and child care. But that "time bind" -- so many things pulling at one's 24-hour-day -- isn't really taking a toll on women's health, he says.

In fact, women were healthier in 2000 than ever before. When Schnittker crunched all the numbers, he found that women had somewhat better health than men. However, only employed women had better health.

However, having a small child at home complicated matters for women.

When their kids were very young, working women’s health suffered, says Schnittker. But once the 6th birthday hadwas past, a woman’s health began improving again. Men’s health is not impacted by the childcare responsibilities, he explains.

It's when their kids are very young that women's health suffers, says Schnittker. But once the sixth birthday is past, her health begins improving again. Men's health is not affected during this period.

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