Final answer:
Women created social constructs for men to maintain resource access and protection, cementing traditional gender roles. These constructs were challenged as women gained independence, particularly during World War II, aligning with conflict theory's view of societal struggle.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the text, women, as the primary sexual selectors, influenced the creation of social constructs for men to follow as a response to their dependency on men in historical hunter-gatherer societies. Men's roles as hunters required them to be strong and aggressive, securing themselves as dominant males, and ensuring their genes were passed on by mating with multiple females. In stark contrast, women needed to secure protection and resources for themselves and their offspring, prompting them to form long-term monogamous relationships with men. This led to their further engagement in more nurturing responsibilities like childcare and food preparation.
Over time, as societies grew more complex, social constructs evolved, further distinguishing gender roles and cementing women's subordination to men within the private sphere of the household. During World War II, as women took on roles outside the home, they began challenging these constructs as they gained economic independence and societal roles previously held by men. Nonetheless, with men's return post-war, the struggle intensified, as women fought to maintain their newfound roles giving rise to conflict theory dynamics.