A survey of 488 health professionals was undertaken to determine their beliefs regarding the effects of maternal employment outside the home on children. Forty percent of the respondents felt that it is better that the mother not work outside of the home and 74% thought part-time preferable to full-time employment. Male subjects were less favorable than female subjects toward maternal employment. Among the male physicians, older respondents, those with children, and those whose spouses did not work were less favorable toward mothers working. Personal characteristics of the respondent, especially gender, were significantly related to opinions, which suggests that health professionals' attitudes and their advice to mothers are largely based on personal experience and bias rather than on knowledge of the research literature.