I don't understand what you mean, CoolChange. Women's rights, and the necessity to work, are two different issues, wholly unconnected. Can you provide more examples of what would make you wonder whether the women's movement has been good for anybody?
They might be unconnected now, but the necessity for the woman to work was fueled largely by the movement. The movement went beyond the "right" of a woman to work, equal pay, increase of education, etc and created a culture that demanded a woman meet her career potential even while insisting they had a right to choose. True, they had the right to choose technically but as the movement evolved the cultural pressures dictated otherwise.
As people became accustomed to women working full time, they soon became accustomed and dependent on the second income. This second income also created a quality of living that was much higher than in previous generations. This higher caliber lifestyle became the expectation and definition of what a "good" life means. Society & the "movement" effectively created a void in society that could only be filled by a second income which of course had to sourced primarily through the wife.
At this point in time, it is my belief that for many women, the women's movement has come full circle and again, they effectively have no choice. However, this time it isn't that they don't have a choice to pursue a career but rather that they no longer have the choice to NOT have a career. They simply cannot afford it.
