I was referring to women who are juggling career/home. Men don’t enter the picture. Of all the reasons that women need to work, financial is almost always the most compelling one. Much of American society is now built on a two wage earner model so the pressures are stronger for women to join the workforce so that the family can live in a subdivision with a good school district, take decent vacations etc. I am not arguing the reasoning behind the decisions made by couples, just stating that it is compelling.
I think that when children are in the mix, the quality of upbringing plays a huge role in their development. The time investment necessary, simply cannot be quantified by day care or prestigious private schools. The transmission of culture, values also has to play a role.
I am not stating it’s unsustainable based on conjecture but rather sound evidence from HR studies on Men vs. Female career ladders, the effects of working 60+ hours on long term health (JAMA). You can juggle for only so long before you start slipping or experience massive burnouts. This just doesn’t apply to women but also men. Running medical practices, research labs, and legit NPOs is not exactly the same as being partner in BigLaw, MD at an I-Bank because the former activities tend to be entrepreneurial in nature where a Physican in practice can cancel office hours when junior is sick, try doing the same at a legal firm (not private practice) and the ramifications would be swift in terms of career trajectories. Sure you could mention that this woman is satisfied at where she is, but then you have people howling about discrimination at the workplace as well. Not exactly black and white.