number of neighborhood women available to provide child day care is down significantly because fewer women are at home during the day (Wash & Brand, 1990, pp. 17-24).
A moral controversy also surrounds the issue of mothers working outside the home that must be considered in relation to the need for day care for children. One element of American society contends that all mothers should stay home and take care of their own children. These people contend that mothers who use day care so that they may work outside of the home are, in fact, neglecting their children. Conveniently overlooked in these arguments is the neglect that stems from an inability to adequately provide for one's children, if one does not or cannot work outside of the home.
A second element in American society may or may not be opposed to child day care outside of the home; however, this element is adamantly opposed to any governmental financial support of such care or of any public law mandating that such care be provided by employers (Feldman, 1988, pp. 7-9). This element is often willing to acknowledge that child day care is a major problem for millions of people; however, they are seldom willing to take any meaningful action to ameliorate the situation, preferring instead to suggest that employers voluntarily provide such services.
A third element in American society includes child day care as a component of an activist social agenda, along with aid for the
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