Who is “they”, and why do you presume “they” pushed for women being able to work because it would benefit families?

I want women to be able to work because I want the women in my life to not be caught under the thumb of an abuser. If it harms families somehow, that is a separate problem, with separate solutions that do not have anything to do with restricting the independence of women.

>Especially since women are paid nearly half as much as men across nearly every industry.

This is not true when comparing the price of the same labor offered by a man or woman.