Chatelaine Day-care survey

This survey was conducted as a poll of the readers of the magazine Chatelaine. Over half of all respondents were in the high and middle socio-economic groups with annual incomes of over $15,000 per family.

In general, the results of the survey support the data shown in the proceeding tables. The survey also indicates that among families reporting an annual income of less than $10,000, day care means (a) that mother can work to supplement the family income (25%) and (b) that mother can return to school or keep up with studies already in progress (19%). Among families reporting an annual income of over $15,000, only a small fraction use day care to return to school.

Source: "Chatelaine day-care survey results", Chatelaine, 1977, August, p. 14

Comment:

These results suggest that low income mothers are more in need of educational programs than middle and high income mothers. This is supported by general census data which suggest that women in low income families have a higher proportion of under-educated women in their ranks.

One outcome might be that criteria for day care subsidies need to be amended to include a factor which combines need for educational programs with present financial need criteria. For example, the turning points on the scale determining level of subsidization might be lower for a woman with low educational attainment than for women with higher levels of educational attainment. These educational criteria could include both grade level completion and occupational training.