The relationship to minimum wage vs cost of living has also changed since the 1950s. The minimum wage was originally designed so a single earner could, working

The relationship to minimum wage vs cost of living has also changed since the 1950s. The minimum wage was originally designed so a single earner could, working 40 hours/week, support a (very modest) house, spouse, and kids. That, plus the GI bill (providing college for returning military) set a floor on earnings scale, and allowed a great middle class, where people could actually live, save, and send kids to college on one income. The Republican Party Platform in 1956 was to raise, and continue raising the miniumum wage [0] Since the minimum wage has stagnated while inflation increased, it is no longer possible to remain above poverty on one-income at minimum wage. It might also be worth noting that it was not until 1974 that women could get a credit card without their husband's signature [1], and that is just one example of where women's rights have changed. So, it was both societally and fiscally practical to have a "tradwife" arrangement, and it was similarly impractical to not do so. If people actually want to go back to running a society where that is the norm, they must not only make regulations forcing it, they mush ALSO make regulations ensuring that it is possible, i.e., boosting the minimum wage to the point where one income will support a whole family and send kids to college. I'd expect if only the income were raised, it would cause more traditional arrangements to happen without restricting rights. [0] https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/republican-party-platform-1956 https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/republican-party-p... [1] https://www.cnn.com/2014/08/07/living/sixties-women-5-things/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2014/08/07/living/sixties-women-5-things...