We put the guns to our own heads more or less. WE dont want to be failures, worry our parents, disappoint the church, hurt the kids.. sorry after we are out & look back in the prison we build for ourselves.
You're on the right track. They've been working on us since the 50's, at least. All those vapid movies where the perfectly coifed and svelt mother has the kids fed and in bed while she tiptoes in her tight sheath and her French twist to get her hubs a martini as the steaks sizzle in the background...Pfft!
They sold us the notion that a stay-home woman was somehow incomplete. And then they started that whole equality thing, just to make sure we'd accept abortion...