Why was it difficult for american women to work outside home before the 1920s

At this point in history, women were regarded as inferior to men and were not allowed to do 'men's work'. At this point, women couldn't even vote. They were expected to be a housewife to their husband, raise the kids and do all of the housework. They were only supposed to leave their home with their husband's permission and their husband could generally do whatever he wanted