Getting to 50/50 audiobook cover - How Working Parents Can Have it All

Getting to 50/50

How Working Parents Can Have it All

Sharon Meers and Joanna Strober

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Parenting

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Getting to 50/50
The 50/50 Life+
Childcare Realities+
Benefits of Dual-Income+
Advantages for Working Women+
Busting Workplace Myths+
Strategies for Couples+
Navigating Maternity Leave+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to a 15-year study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, how does part-time childcare affect a child's emotional well-being?
  • A. It causes a slight delay in emotional maturity.
  • B. It results in no difference in emotional well-being compared to full-time parental supervision.
  • C. It significantly increases the likelihood of childhood depression.
  • D. It makes children far more independent than those raised exclusively by parents.
Question 2 of 8
What did sociologist Lynn Prince Cooke's 2006 study reveal about couples who share household and income-earning duties 50/50?
  • A. They reduced their risk of divorce by 50 percent compared to the average.
  • B. They reported slightly higher levels of stress but better financial stability.
  • C. They had the same divorce rate as traditional families but reported higher marital satisfaction.
  • D. They were 13 percent more likely to separate within the first five years of marriage.
Question 3 of 8
Based on the research cited in the book, how does staying at home full-time typically affect a mother's health?
  • A. Stay-at-home mothers experience the lowest levels of stress and anxiety.
  • B. Stay-at-home mothers enjoy significantly better physical health due to a more relaxed schedule.
  • C. Stay-at-home mothers face a 30 percent increase in psychological issues like depression.
  • D. Stay-at-home mothers have identical health outcomes to women who work full-time.
Question 4 of 8
In a 2004 Princeton study, students rated identical fictional profiles of new parents working from home, named Kate and Dan. What was the outcome of this study?
  • A. Both characters were rated equally competent, showing a decline in gender bias.
  • B. Kate was rated as the most competent, while Dan was penalized for working from home.
  • C. Kate was evaluated as the least competent candidate, while Dan was ranked as one of the best.
  • D. Both characters were deemed highly incompetent compared to non-parent candidates.
Question 5 of 8
How did the electronics retail company Best Buy successfully reduce employee turnover and boost productivity?
  • A. By mandating a strict 40-hour workweek with no overtime allowed.
  • B. By implementing a program where employees could set their own hours.
  • C. By offering significant financial bonuses for employees who worked weekends.
  • D. By providing on-site childcare for all full-time employees.
Question 6 of 8
What does the example of professional tennis players challenging umpire decisions at the U.S. Open illustrate about women in the workplace?
  • A. Women are penalized more harshly when they make mistakes.
  • B. Women have a tendency not to stand up for themselves as often as men do.
  • C. Women are generally more accurate in their assessments than men.
  • D. Women prefer to negotiate quietly rather than challenge authority publicly.
Question 7 of 8
What strategy does the book recommend for expectant mothers when discussing maternity leave with their boss?
  • A. Leave the return date open-ended to maintain flexibility after the baby is born.
  • B. Demand a reduced schedule immediately to set clear boundaries.
  • C. Have a plan, know your entitlements, and state a clear date when you expect to return to work.
  • D. Wait until the last possible moment to inform the boss to avoid being passed over for promotions.
Question 8 of 8
What is a key piece of advice given to mothers to help actively encourage fathers in caregiving?
  • A. Provide constant, constructive feedback whenever he makes a mistake with the baby.
  • B. Avoid offering unsolicited advice or chastising him for doing things differently.
  • C. Assign him only the most enjoyable tasks so he associates the baby with fun.
  • D. Take over immediately if the baby starts crying while the father is holding them.

Getting to 50/50 — Full Chapter Overview

Getting to 50/50 Summary & Overview

Getting to 50/50 (2009) exposes the myths surrounding traditional male and female parental roles and provides actionable techniques that allow both mothers and fathers to be independent earners, enjoy quality time with their children and share responsibilities in the household.

Who Should Listen to Getting to 50/50?

  • Parents who want to share their responsibilities but don’t know how
  • Pregnant women or mothers who want to continue working throughout motherhood

About the Author: Sharon Meers and Joanna Strober

Sharon Meers is a former Managing Director at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and holds a managerial position at Ebay. Together with her husband, she founded the Parity Center at the Stanford School for Business, which supports research on gender equality in the home and at work.

Joanna Strober was a Managing Director of an investment firm, and is the CEO and co-founder of Kurbo, an online company working to prevent childhood obesity.

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