On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she would be leaving her position to care for her two young children. As a mother, it is an easy choice to make. What mother would not want to spend her children's most formative years nurturing them and watching them grow? While no rational person will fault Leavitt for a choice she will never regret, a new poll reveals some insights into how American women view their life choices.
Happy that Karoline Leavitt can afford to make this choice for the benefit of her family. Sadly the majority of working mothers don’t have that choice due to economic need.
— Irene Deem (@ewtnsantarosa) August 13, 2026
A recent Economist/YouGov poll asked women this question: “If either option were available, would you pursue a career outside the home or stay home to care for your family?” In some respects, the results may not be all that surprising, but in others, they are. Overall, 47 percent of respondents, both men and women, said they would choose a career outside of the home, compared to 37 percent who said they would stay at home to care for their families.
READ MORE: Karoline Leavitt Makes Important Announcement About Her Future
A little over half of the men surveyed, 51 percent, said they would work outside the home; 30 percent said they would stay at home, and 20 percent were unsure. But here is where things got curious. Of the women surveyed, 43 percent said they would choose a career, 43 percent said they would stay at home, and 14 percent said they were unsure. When broken down politically, 52 percent of Democrats would choose a career, and 30 percent of Democrats said they would stay at home. But the most intriguing numbers might be that 45 percent of Republicans said they would choose a career, and 44 percent said they would stay at home.
In recent years, the conservative movement has put added emphasis on marriage and family, and rightly so. It has been proven time and again that two-parent households are the best environment for children to grow and thrive. Ideally, their mother would be at home to care for them. But as the cost of living has increased, American households with a single income are a rarity, and, sadly, not every mom has that luxury.
A woman who prioritizes her career is called “selfish” and “not family oriented.”
— Raye (@kexy_payn) August 12, 2026
A man who does the same is called “ambitious” and “a provider.”
Same choice. Different judgment.
Then there's the other question: What if you are a conservative woman, but marriage and family are not the life you have been dealt? What if that's not the life you want? It's easy to place blame for that on the left. They have spent decades telling women that they would lose their identities in the marriage and family abyss. But American women are much smarter now. They know they have choices, and that they aren't all bad.
As conservatives, are we assuming that every young woman meets her future husband and gets married in her 20s? I didn't meet my husband until I was 34 and got married at 36. Are we assuming that motherhood comes easily to every woman who wants to have children? As someone with health issues, I can assure you it doesn't. Promoting a positive message of marriage and family to young conservatives is essential, but what are we implying if those things don't happen?
We have been putting up with the "wild vocal" feminists for a long time. But what if there is a whole contingent of women promoting conservatism, be it through writing, podcasting, or just being active in their communities, who are quite happy and productive living their unmarried and/or childless lives, and are major contributors to society? Sometimes, the movement we so strongly believe in seems not to want to acknowledge that we exist.
Suzanne Venker is a woman's life and relationship coach and host of the "Suzanne Venker Show." In 2024, at the Turning Point USA Young Women's Leadership Summit, she said this:
“Eventually I’m hoping we’re going to sort of get back into the middle where there’s a space for you to have your independent life, but it needs to be worked around children, and you don’t have go all the way in and live off the land and homeschool — which is great — but that’s not the only option, and it’s not really going to be most women’s option."
Maybe an equally good message for young conservatives is that it is okay to choose a different path.
Modern women are moving away from the constant corporate grind to prioritise mental peace, family, and true life balance. Stepping back isn't a retreat—it's an intentional choice to redefine success on your own terms. 💫https://t.co/qP25JBxpoW
— womanandhome_sa (@womanandhome_sa) August 7, 2026
