Final answer:
The question addresses the expected roles of women post-war to resume domestic duties despite their active participation in war efforts. The challenge to traditional gender norms following the war led to a shift in women's roles, as many sought new opportunities with the societal landscape changed by wartime losses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question delves into the socio-historical context surrounding women's roles post-war, where there was an expectation for women to revert to traditional domestic responsibilities, serving their brothers and fathers. After significant involvement in war efforts, from providing necessary supplies to nursing wounded soldiers, many women found it difficult to return to their pre-war subservient roles. This period underscored the tension between traditional gender expectations and the evolving roles of women in society.
Despite societal pressures for women to relinquish their wartime jobs to returning servicemen, many did not. The war had a lasting impact, with numerous men lost in battle and to the flu epidemic, leaving many women without the prospect of marriage and motherhood. As a result, women sought out other opportunities, leading to increased gender role diversification.
Traditional U.S. gender roles often portrayed women as homemakers, expected to serve within the private sphere, while men occupied public roles. However, after the war, these norms were challenged, and the importance of women's roles in both the public and private spheres became more prominent, although support for women's rights remained limited.