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Moms In Canada: What's The Difference Between 'Working' And 'Stay At Home'? (INFOGRAPHIC)

What's The Difference Between 'Working' And 'Stay At Home'? (INFOGRAPHIC)
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For years, there's been a division between mothers in North America, between those who work out of the home, and those who don't. But as it turns out, those moms might not be as different as they thought.

According to this infographic from Mom Citizen, a division of PR agency Citizen Optimum, almost two-thirds of women with children under 18 characterize themselves as 'working moms,' a number that it corresponds with the most recent information from Statistics Canada.

In motherhood circles, the arguments tend to run along the same lines: Women may lose themselves without an identity outside the home! Women who leave their children to work don't love them as much! And for those who attempt to do both, of course, there was The Atlantic's recent piece on why that is completely impossible.

But despite what appears to be a no-win situation, according to the research below, it doesn't look like there are quite as many regrets as we've been led to believe -- mothers who choose to stay at home with their children, or those who choose to work, each are quite happy with their decision.

Only half the mothers who are at home would choose to go to work, and one-fifth of the ones in the working world would want to quit. And perhaps most interestingly, both believe it's important for their children to see them in the role they've taken on.

Read on, and let us know what you think in the comments below. Does this reflect your opinions about motherhood?

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Maternity Leave Around The World (2012)
United States(01 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 12 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: No national program but cash benefits may be provided at the state level.
(credit:Flickr: Gage Skidmore)
Iceland(02 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 3 months for the mother, 3 months for the father, and 3 months that can be taken by either parent (total of 9 months)
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (up to ISK350,000 per month)
(credit:Flickr: biologyfishman)
Germany(03 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:(Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images))
Japan(04 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 67
(credit:Flickr: OiMax)
Malta(05 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Magnus Bråth)
New Zealand(06 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Paid, 38 Weeks Unpaid
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Tākuta)
Switzerland(07 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80
(credit:Flickr: Oyvind Solstad)
Belgium(08 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period.
(credit:Getty)
Finland(09 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70
(credit:Getty)
Slovenia(10 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Luigi Rosa)
Austria(11 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Getty)
France(12 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Getty)
Latvia(13 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 112 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: xmacex)
Luxembourg(14 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: James Cridland)
Netherlands(15 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: marjoleinknuit)
Spain(16 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Grey World)
Greece(17 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 119 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 50
(credit:Flickr: tjuel)
Australia(18 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Each parent can take up to 12 months of leave, of which 18 weeks are paid.
(credit:Getty)
Lithuania(19 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Mr. T in DC)
Belarus(20 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Getty)
Moldova(21 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Aurelian SÄ)
Ukraine(22 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: LancerenoK)
Romania(23 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 85
(credit:Flickr: gorriti)
Portugal(24 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 120 to 150 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option
(credit:Flickr: freddie boy)
Estonia(25 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Getty)
Poland(26 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Magic Madzik)
Russia(27 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Mad Wraith)
Italy(28 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 5 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80
(credit:Flickr: Ell Brown )
Bulgaria(29 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 135 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid:90
(credit:Shutterstock)
Hungary(30 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 24 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70
(credit:Flickr: kat.dodd)
Ireland(31 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 26 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80
(credit:Flickr: Tom Raftery)
Czech Republic(32 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 60
(credit:Getty)
Slovakia(33 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55
(credit:Flickr: quinet)
Macedonia(34 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 9 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Not found.
(credit:Flickr: Zé.Valdi)
Norway(35 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 36 to 46 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option.
(credit:Flickr: Lemsipmatt)
Albania(36 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 365 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 per cent prior to birth and for 150 days after and 50 per cent for the rest of the leave period. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha shown here.
(credit:Getty)
Bosnia And Herzegovina(37 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period.
(credit:Shutterstock)
Canada(38 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 per cent at 17 weeks for maternity leave, and the additional 35 weeks can be taken by either parent. Wages also depend on province.
(credit:Getty)
Croatia(39 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Getty)
Denmark(40 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Getty)
Serbia(41 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100
(credit:Flickr: Knight Foundation)
United Kingdom(42 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 weeks; however, pay is only for 39 weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 90% of average weekly earnings for first 6 weeks; £139.58 or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for next 33 weeks
(credit:Fickr: Gage Skidmore)
Sweden(43 of43)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 420 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80
(credit:Flickr: morberg)

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