>>212367101>>212367653It's only Western women, and only relatively recently (since the 1950s).
During the 1950s, America had such an amazing economy that the idea of stay at home wives was entirely possible. One man's middle class job was so good that he could buy a house, a car, and support a family of 4.
Before the 1950s, it was expected that women would work. Like helping out on the farm, being a nurse, maid, etc. If women raised kids then would have to do serious work each day. No such thing as automatic washers and dryers. Most things were done by hand and it took all day to clean and dry clothes. Plus cooking and cleaning and tending to the kids.