Out of all mated women, 42% (33% equal contributors + 9% "breadwinners") give up their b̲̲r̲̲e̲̲a̲̲d̲̲w̲̲i̲̲n̲̲n̲̲i̲̲n̲̲g̲̲ r̲̲o̲̲l̲̲e̲̲ when it comes to giving birth (1 year before first baby to 1 year after). In the same window, men share of breadwinners raises by 40%.
This shows how much b̲̲i̲̲o̲̲l̲̲o̲̲g̲̲y̲̲ impacts the workforce. To every man, woman and (forming) couple out there, reality-checking their expectations should be a top-priority. Female fertility does declines sharply past age 35, so perhaps the best advice to healthy family-minded young women would be to p̲̲o̲̲s̲̲t̲̲p̲̲o̲̲n̲̲e̲̲ taking leadership roles or longterm responsibilities until their kids are teens (secondary education). This way you make sure you raise h̲̲e̲̲a̲̲l̲̲t̲̲h̲̲y̲̲ k̲̲i̲̲d̲̲s̲̲ f̲̲i̲̲r̲̲s̲̲t̲̲ and launch a potentially enduring and successful career later. Here an example timeline (age).
🡺 Career. Path established: 18
First child born: 18
Last child born: 21
First child in Secondary: 32
Last child in Secondary: 35
🡺 Career. Re-Entrance: 35
🡺 Career. Responsibilites unfold - Leadership etc.: 37
Transition to Secondary school assumed to happen at 14 years of age.
"breadwinner" has been defined with over 60% contribution
Data Source: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research
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