Societal norms gradually changed as the result of so many wives and mother's going to work for pay during WWII. Other changes directly traceable to WWII also occurred. The USA was a sleeping bear pre WWII. The technologies and manufacturing capacities that we developed to supply the troops of the West radically and permanently changed our economic system, led to rise of major corporations as societal influences, began the shift away from agrarian (spell?) norms, resulted in increased mobility, in population shifts, in the loss of community and social supports that were essential to the care and maintenance of the nuclear family, etc., etc. The 'Welfare State' arose in response to these changes. It did not cause these changes.

Janie