The Effects on Children When Both Parents are Employed Socio-economic conditions in North America have contributed to the need for dual incomes for families. Economically, "the number of two parent families below the poverty line would increase to an estimated 78% if they were to become single income families ." Socially, it was the norm, in the past, for women to stay at home, taking care of the children and providing emotional support for the family. Presently, women feel that their traditional roles as child bearers and homemakers must be supplemented with a career outside the home. Recent studies reflect an increased trend towards the dual income family