Which statement best illustrates a shift in societal attitudes toward gender roles during the second wave?

Which statement best illustrates a shift in societal attitudes toward gender roles during the second wave?

• A. Women increasingly prioritized domestic roles over work
• B. Legal rights for women were unchanged
• C. Society became more accepting of women combining work and family responsibilities
• D. Men's roles became more restricted

Answer: (C)

The main concept being tested is how attitudes toward gender roles shifted in the second wave, moving toward accepting that women could balance work with family responsibilities. In this period, feminism challenged the idea that a woman’s place was only in the home and pushed for equal opportunities in education and employment, as well as social acceptance of mothers who worked. The statement that society became more accepting of women combining work and family responsibilities captures that tangible change in what people expected and tolerated in everyday life, not just changes in laws. That broader shift contrasts with the other ideas: prioritizing domestic roles over work reflects the older stereotype rather than the new attitude; claiming legal rights were unchanged ignores the social momentum and reforms that accompanied the era; and suggesting men’s roles became more restricted runs counter to the push for shared domestic duties and equal partnership that characterized the movement.

The main concept being tested is how attitudes toward gender roles shifted in the second wave, moving toward accepting that women could balance work with family responsibilities. In this period, feminism challenged the idea that a woman’s place was only in the home and pushed for equal opportunities in education and employment, as well as social acceptance of mothers who worked. The statement that society became more accepting of women combining work and family responsibilities captures that tangible change in what people expected and tolerated in everyday life, not just changes in laws.

That broader shift contrasts with the other ideas: prioritizing domestic roles over work reflects the older stereotype rather than the new attitude; claiming legal rights were unchanged ignores the social momentum and reforms that accompanied the era; and suggesting men’s roles became more restricted runs counter to the push for shared domestic duties and equal partnership that characterized the movement.