Women, in general, control about 70% of the household income. As far as I can tell, they always have.

One of the primary complaints raised in the Declaration of Sentiments in 1848 was that women were first financially dependent on their fathers and then financially dependent on their husbands; with the obligations that came with that.

The alternative to men earning the money is that women would earn the money. This neatly erases the male role in a family. Women do not stay married to men who do not provide.

It is interesting to me that men's role to bring home resources for their partners and the mother of their children; and are so hated and resented for it.