Final answer:
Men had fears about women working in factories due to potential sexual harassment, disruption of traditional gender roles, and economic implications such as lowered wages for men.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fears that men held about women doing factory jobs were multifaceted and rooted in social and economic concerns. Men feared that the presence of women in factories could lead to sexual harassment and potentially diminish the moral standards expected of women. Additionally, there was a fear that women working in traditionally male-dominated industries would disrupt the status quo of gender roles, with women potentially becoming less dependent on men and challenging the traditional family structure. Financially, there was concern that an increase in female workers would drive down wages and affect the livelihoods of male workers. The cultural notion that women should be protected and financially dependent on men underpinned much of this opposition to women in the workforce.