Lawyers, receptionists and police officers are among those whose job makes them less likely to be a good parent, a study of social stereotypes attached to careers has found.
Parents with jobs seen by society as "aggressive, weak or impersonal" are often more stressed than those whose jobs are traditionally associated with parenting.
Workers in occupations generally thought of as being "good, strong and caring", such as those of teachers, doctors or nurses, found it easier to fulfil their parental duties at home, the University of Iowa study found.
Lawyers, salesmen and saleswomen, labourers, receptionists, police officers and politicians were regarded with a cynicism that could damage their parenting.
By comparison, popular preconceptions of senior academics, doctors, nurses and teachers can help parents in raising their children, the study found.
"I used to think the conflict was about time and energy, not so much this internal conflict about identity," study co-author Mary Noonan, an associate professor of sociology at the university, said.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
