Final answer:
The Holts' lives require gender strategies due to post-WWII societal changes where women, having assumed workforce roles, faced conflict upon men's return who wanted to reclaim their jobs. Conflict theory posits that social issues emerge from dominant groups' oppression of subordinate groups, and this power imbalance within families leads to disputes over roles and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conflict in the Holts' lives that necessitates gender strategies stems from societal changes following World War II. When men returned from the war and wanted to reclaim their jobs, there was a conflict as many women did not wish to give up their wage-earning roles. This required a reconsideration of gender roles and the economic positions of men and women within the family structure.
Conflict Theory suggests that societal problems arise when dominant groups, in this case, men as the traditional breadwinners, oppress or exploit subordinate groups, such as women who entered the workforce during the war. The family is viewed as an arena where power struggles occur, often necessitating strategies for managing role expectations and power differentials. For example, women's suffrage and reproductive rights are manifestations of struggles against gender-based power imbalances.
Through the lens of gender and conflict theory, the Holts and similar families likely faced disputes over the division of household labor, which are seen as a source of marital discord. Sociologists like Blood and Wolfe found that access to economic resources often translates to power within a marriage, prompting conflict when there is an imbalance, such as when men work outside of the home and women are expected to handle unpaid domestic work.