Were women treated as incompetent kids in past? How was it viewed for them to work, be self sufficient, have more freedom, have life outside house?

[WilliamPamer446]

[GubGubo]

Alright this is going to be long.

Women's roles in preindustrial society So before the industrial revolution, men and women had very specific roles in the family and in society. Men were the ones who usually did physically intensive labor like hunting, farming, and building; they were the ones who were solely responsible for bringing in money. Women presided over the household by cleaning, cooking, and raising kids, and would also be the ones responsible for producing goods like clothing.
Women were limited to the house and even if they did want to be independent, they did not have any opportunists to financially support themselves. Because of this women were basically expected to have a husband right when they leave their parents, and had no choice but to be completely dependent on that husband. So at this time the idea of women working was just completely alien, and women really had no lives outside of the home because of how intensive their roles were.

The First Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)
Ok so the industrial revolution started, right. The south was able to produce and process much more of a crop per area of land and per slave than ever before (the horrid effects of the industrial revolution on slavery is another conversation on its own) which massively increased the supply of raw materials. In addition machinery in the north like The Spinning Jenny automated things textile production, taking some of the load off women.
The spike in production efficiency brought about factory jobs which broke the ever-stagnant conventional roles of men, and as time went on factory jobs began to become available to women as well (see the Lowell System). Now although factory jobs at this time had brutal working conditions and tireless hours with little pay, it was pay, and for women it was the first time ever that they were able to have their own income. The increase of people seeing women in jobs would begin a GRADUAL shift in the societal norms of women, although they were still viewed as inferior.

Ok so i think im running out of space for this "opinion" so i'll continue in the replies..

[GubGubo]

nevermind i am weak im going to bed

[GubGubo]

ok ill just say,
second industrial revolution and women had a lot more job opportunities,
WWI happened and women filled the high demand for workers in more intensive jobs to supply the war and gained both experience and respect,
1920's the economic expansion with roads and cars and consumer culture led women to have more of a life outside of the house, in the 1920's there were also flappers which conveyed the image of female independence and further normalized it, finally in the 1920's there was the ratification of 19th amendment which again further normalized independence and allowed women to have a say in politics.
WWII happened and women again filled the need for workers, at this point they're basically badasses, respected workers, but still the sentiment that they should be subordinate to men persisted in many areas and from there its just about ironing those out.