The book examines the period before 1950, a time marked by industrialization, the Great Depression, and two World Wars, all of which significantly shaped wage dynamics and social expectations. It analyzes how wages were determined, the disparities across different occupations, and the influence of economic cycles on earning potential. Using historical wage data, census records, and sociological studies, the book progresses by first introducing core concepts, then analyzing the evolution of wage patterns, the forces reinforcing male provider ideology, and the relationship between economic stability and social order.