Social and gender inequalities sanctioned women to be in the forefront of employment. However, women have since participated in labor market since World War II. They had to provide for their families since many men were soldiers participating in wars and this paved way for employment.
In addition, the rise of feminism movements also increased employment for women as many were able to go to school and attain qualifications that enabled them to become doctors, lawyers, etc. This also increase social mobility; gave women power to head families; and tilted gender inequalities scales a little bit.
The Marshall Plan was an American initiative passed in 1948 for foreign aid to Western Europe. The United States transferred over $12 billion in economic recovery programs to Western European economies after the end of World War II. They used this plan as a way to rebuild Europe.