Final answer:
The development of the traditional family ideal in post-World War II America involved an increase in real wages, social expectations, technological advancements, and educational reforms. Though societal norms emphasized a male breadwinner and female homemaker dynamic, the realities of work, independence, and economic necessity often painted a more complex picture for many American women. All of the above mentioned options are correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideal of the traditional family in post-World War II America was influenced by multiple factors. The factors contributing to the development of the traditional family ideal, characterized by the male breadwinner and the female homemaker, include an increase in real wages, social expectations and norms, technological advancements, and educational reforms. However, it's important to recognize that despite these contributing factors, the reality was complex, with many women continuing to work due to economic necessity or personal choice.
During the postwar period, there was a clear expectation for men to return from war and reclaim their jobs, thereby resuming their role as the family breadwinner. Meanwhile, women were expected to return to domestic roles, bolstered by social norms that idealized motherhood and domesticity. This period also saw a baby boom, driven by a sense of economic security and the desire to return to family life. Nonetheless, the societal push towards traditional gender roles was met with resistance by some women, who had experienced independence and income during wartime.
Technological advancements such as ready-made clothes and canned foods simplified household chores, shifting the family dynamic and women's roles within it. While the postwar era celebrated traditional family structures, it also experienced an unprecedented number of divorces and a growing recognition of the 'second shift' for working women, who balanced both careers and domestic responsibilities without much help from their spouses. The preservation of traditional gender roles was to some extent championed by conservative movements that argued in favor of a patriarchal family model.