is the increasing presence of married mothers with infants working a sign or progress? or not?

It's an incredibly poorly-worded question.

Here it is in somewhat better English:

More married mothers of infants are working these days. Is that a sign of progress, or not?

Thank goodness you explained that jes.

I was alarmed at the thought of all those infant sign spinners.

I think the idea is whether you agree or disagree - you have a couple of thoughts here - either you agree it is a sign of progress then you would take a stance that women like men can work and have a family so women are now equal to men (support with your own opinion).

Or it is not a sign of progress because now women have to work and have a family - this is not progress as the women has to do both and no one home to take care of the children.

Either case can be argued - but you need to argue it depending on how you feel - simply pull some facts that support which way you feel.