Over the past two decades, women in society have moved into paid work alongside continuing shifts in family life. Some people argue that juvenile delinquency stems from working married women who are absent from home. I largely disagree, because the problems of young people are better explained by broad social conditions and by the quality, not the quantity, of parental care at home.

The primary drivers of juvenile delinquency among young people are socioeconomic pressure, peer influence, and weakened community structures rather than the work that married women do. Moreover, in households facing insecure jobs or housing, stress reduces effective care for children regardless of which parent works. For instance, neighbourhoods with poor schools and limited youth services report higher offending by young people even when a mother stays at home, showing that structural factors matter more.

Furthermore, women who work can strengthen the family by improving income and by becoming financially independent, especially for daughters who watch a capable woman balance career and home. Dual-earner families often invest in organised childcare and after-school programmes, and shared parenting by men and women, which enhances the care each child receives. Admittedly, neglect can occur in any home, yet it is wrong to single out married women when supportive government policy strongly shapes youth outcomes.

In conclusion, although family routines have changed, blaming the work of women for juvenile delinquency is misplaced. Social inequality, community resources, and engaged parenting by both parents matter far more to young people. Therefore, I disagree to a large extent, and I contend that society should support the family rather than restrict the roles of women.