The public views impact of motherhood on a woman's career differently in politics and business % saying it is better for a woman who wants to reach high the office or a top executive position in business to
Roughly half of Americans (51%) say it’s better for a woman who wants to reach high political office to have children before entering politics, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey on gender and leadership. About a quarter (26%) say it would be better to wait until she is well-established in her political career, while 19% say it would be better for a woman not to have children at all if she plans to seek higher office.
Views are different when it comes to leadership positions in the business world. About a quarter of Americans (23%) say it’s better for women who want to reach top executive jobs in business to have children early in their careers, 41% say they should wait and 34% say it’s better for them not to have children at all.
The public views impact of motherhood on a  | woman's career differently in politics and business  | % saying it is better for a woman who wants to reach high  | the office or a top executive position in business to  | Have children before  | Wait until she's  | entering politics/  | well-established  | Not have  | in her career  | children  | early in her career  | High political  | 51%  | 26%  | 19 %  | office  | Top exec. position  | 23  | 41  | 34  | in business  | Note: Share of respondents who didn it offer an answer not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted June 19-July 2, 2018  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 