In my experience, the choice to stay at home or work out of the house one largely driven by a family's economic situation. I live in NYC and am part of the upper-middle class strata, although there are some really wealthy people in the mix.

Most of the moms I know would love to cut back or quit working to stay home with their young children. I do know a few who would feel trapped and bored at home and would never give up their jobs. But time and again, I have heard women lament the financial need to work.