Study: Idaho is ranked last for working Moms

Idaho was ranked number 51 in a study conducted by Wallet Hub. They compared 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key areas: Child Care, Professional Opportunities and Work-Life Balance.

The results were compiled data and statistics from various agencies around the country, but they failed to include a human aspect. They did not ask working Mom’s how they felt.

Andrew Burger, a Sociology Professor at BYU- Rexburg, thought “it was interesting that they did not quite describe what they meant by worst- is it more income? Is it quality of life? They did not really define that.”

The study focuses more on the economic factors instead of the value of how working Mom’s feel.

Katie Eggett, an Office Manager, was taken aback by the study. “I’m a little offended by that. I feel it was taken out of context. Maybe I wanted to be a Mom. I want to be able to go to my kids baseball game or pick up my son from his kindergarten events, and be there for him if he has a teddy bear picnic.”

The study questioned parental leave policies and the cost of daycare.

SuZann Lund from Little People’s Academy Child Care Center said, “I don’t know I agree with it. I think Idaho does a pretty good job supporting their working parents.”

It also failed to take into consideration cultural aspects and personal beliefs.

“Even though Idaho may fall last, Idaho really is one of the best states for me to raise a family, and that’s a choice my husband and I made.”

Burger says the study could have been improved by asking questions such as: How satisfied are you with your work-life balance, and attitudinal questions to get more accurate results.

The conclusion: The study is just a bunch of numbers that do not properly reflect the true feelings of Idahoans.

Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-working-moms/3565/