Final answer:
Option (A), The Industrial Revolution altered women's roles significantly, shifting middle-class women toward domestic duties and leading working-class women to contribute to the family income through factory work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on the roles available to women in the 19th century. With the shift from agricultural work to industrialized settings, the dynamics of the family economy changed significantly. Prior to the revolution, both men and women were actively involved in the work required to manage a farm or family business, often working side by side. However, as men began to work away from home in factories, middle-class women increasingly found themselves relegated to roles within the home, focusing on housekeeping and child-rearing.
For working-class women and families, the situation was somewhat different. Male wages were often insufficient, compelling women and children to also enter the workforce, typically in factory settings. Over time, with increasing mechanization and shifting societal values, the presence of women in factories declined. Nevertheless, these changes in work dynamic also led to exploitation of women, limited rights, and women beginning to adopt roles of reformers seeking improvement for society and their own lives.
It's important to note that while the Industrial Revolution did offer women the opportunity to work outside the home (Option B), it certainly did not result in equal pay between women and men (Option D), nor did it encourage women to be content with household chores (Option C). Instead, it created a complex situation where gender roles were redefined, often to the detriment of women's status in relation to men.