Until the 1970s, most Irish women worked in traditional roles as wives and mothers in the home. However, over the past 40 years the situation has changed dramatically, as many women now choose to pursue careers outside the home instead of just working within the household. This shift occurred for a few key reasons: free secondary education led to equal opportunities for boys and girls, gender equality laws gave women equal status in the workforce, and rising costs of living meant many families now rely on two incomes.