When I worked in offices in NYC, women always got pregnant and left for long periods of time. I even remember one dame bringing her kid in and making her secretary baby sit. And nothing could be done! Of course, my reference to Alice was that she had to LIE to get a job. She had to deny her own marriage. I’m sure that really happened.
I understood the reference; I know that happened plenty. At my job some mothers would bring in their children if there was an unexpected day off school; eventually management put an end to that (issues with insurance and such).
The lie sold to women today is that they can “have it all” (meaning a career and a family); it is nearly impossible, and one goal or the other (or both) suffer...