I think many young women who work would stay at home with their children, but they fear that if the marriage dissolves they will be economically devestated. Alimony is rarely given these days, and many women who have been out of the workforce for several years find that their job skills are stale and thus it may take several years to make close to the salary they made prior to having children.
I would love to stay home with my kids once I get married and start a family, but that would be in the back of my mind.
I totally agree. I knew with my first husband that there was a divorce in the future (due to his mental issues and addictive behavior, including sex addiction) and so always made sure I was looking for ways to further my career (with balance- I have always tried to work smarter instead of more hours- and I was always home before my then husband). I am not wealthy but when the inevitable split came (when there was an in-my-face affair), I was able to keep supporting my family at a full-time job I had flexibility with (I pick the hours so I can be home with my older children after school- and I can do some telecommuting, also.) I did not want to end up a suddenly single mom who has to work 80 hours a week at low paying jobs just to pay rent. The good thing in our family was that my mother took care of my two children while I worked, so they have always been with a grandparent when not with a parent.