At first glance, the increased number of women and mothers in the work force seems to be a prime example of the world wide trend of female professional success in the late twentieth century. However, since the Netherlands has always relied on mothers as the primary care givers for young children, their entrance into the workforce poses a problem for young children. They see less of their mothers, and spend more time in child care. On top of that, the Netherlands has a fairly undeveloped governmentally funded child care network because the government policy was dominated by Christian Democrats (they believe that mothers should stay home to raise their children).

Du Bois-Reymond, Manuela and Els Peters. 1991. "New Orientations among Girls: The Dilemma between Work and Motherhood in the Netherlands." Pp. 64-79 in Unrelated Adults in Adolescents' Lives, edited by Stephen F. Hamilton. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University, Western societies Program.

Gustafsson, S.S and F.P. Stafford. 1998. "Equity-Efficiency Tradeoffs and Government Policy in the United States, the Netherlands, and Sweden." Pp. 211-244 in Early Care and Education for Children in Poverty: Promises, Programs, and Long-term Results, edited by Steven W. Barnett and Sarane Spence Boocock. New York: Albany State University Press.

Kremer, Monique. 2002. "The Illusion of Free Choice: Ideals of Care and Child Care Policy in the Flemish and Dutch Welfare States." Pp. 113-142 in Child Care Policy at the Crossroads; Gender and Welfare State Restructuring, edited by Sonya Michel and Rianne Mahon. New York: Routledge.

Sociaal en Cultureel Rapport 2000. Nederland in Europa. Social and Cultural Planning Offices.

Van Dijk, Liset. 2002. Email received Friday, December 6, 2002. (L.vandijk@nivel.nl.)