Some scholars have suggested that it is the "most advantaged" children, the children of high income households or who have high cognitive ability, who are negatively affected by early maternal employment. If this were true, less advantaged children would not be affected as strongly. Findings indicate that in terms of effects on cognitive…

National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data were used to analyze the educational goals and attainment of rural and urban youth; boys and girls; and advantaged, average, and disadvantaged youth. Boys and girls had similar educational aspirations and attainment, but family background characteristics mattered more to girls, especially rural girls.…