By now you’re well-acquainted with public contention over wage inequality or workplace discrimination, but a new Barna report hints at a different professional gap between men and women, one more profoundly linked to an awareness of vocation. First, the good news: Overall, this study of working Christians indicates men and women have an equal chance of finding vocational satisfaction, fulfillment, support and a sense of calling—just not in every stage of life. In particular, working mothers, compared to fathers as well as women in other seasons of life, are consistently less satisfied on almost every level.

This article is part of an online series covering central findings from Christians at Worku,/u Barna’s first report in a multi-year initiative focused on vocation. The study, conducted in partnership with Abilene Christian University, shows that Christians see sacred value in all jobs—a point explored further in part 1 of this series. However, the research shows that developments in relationships or family correlate with one’s ability to thrive in their own work.

The Family Factor: Can Women Really Have It All? The Christian men and women Barna surveyed share goals and qualities as collaborators in work and the Kingdom. In general, they are similarly likely to feel “called,” to make a difference, to find purpose and to feel their strengths are put to use, inside and outside the workplace. But the point at which they most diverge is when parenting enters the picture.

Society has long debated whether women can “have it all”—or what that means in the first place. This study suggests that mothers are making more compromises than fathers do in pursuit of a family and / or a satisfying career. While this group is relatively gratified in their family relationships, Barna’s study shows that working moms (compared with fathers, single men and single women) are well behind on all metrics of satisfaction—relational, spiritual, emotional, you name it. Their attitudes toward vocation also differ. For instance, even though both mothers and fathers share an equal desire to use their gifts and talents for the good of others (64% and 62%), mothers feel significantly less called to or made for their current work than fathers (38% compared to 55%).