Men have played a significant role in American society as the main breadwinner, and protector of the family. But the traditional role of men has slowly been transferred to women. Society is changing with women going to college, and gaining jobs. It may even happen in several years’ time when women are given sole earning responsibility in American society as the main breadwinner of the family. That is due in part to women gained working privileges equal to men in the 1970’s.

Up until the 1970’s, men were the traditional family breadwinners, while women stayed at home, raised the kids, made dinner every night, cleaned the house, and ran all of the errands. Men went to work every day, making enough money to buy a nice home, buy a new car every so often.

Once women were afforded the opportunity to work in the same jobs men once held, men’s more traditional foothold in the workplace was loosened. Women were given bigger jobs with more responsibility, but women take jobs with major responsibly with less pay than men.

The role of men in American society is changing with more women going to college, and obtaining careers; men are playing more untraditional roles at home.

Women are still giving birth to the kids, but are going to work to earn money to pay the bills, while men are staying home raising the kids, running errands, cleaning, making dinner. Young children, boys as well as girls, are being raised with dad at home taking care of the kids.

Millions of families are also raising their young with mom and dad sharing all of the responsibilities. Today’s role of men in American society is more of a shared role, with a more undefined role.

The word “foothold” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _____________.