Not many women worked in 1955. Stay-at-home wives and mothers were more dependent on their husbands in many respects. Today, more and more men are staying home, taking care of the kids and cleaning the house. After 18 or 20 years with this as their resume, these men will be in the same boat women were in should they ever want to get divorced.
I am not saying this is either a good or a bad thing. It just is what it is.