Even if we assume that they didn't before (which is not really true to start with, for the overwhelming majority of the population), I don't see anything wrong with the fact that women now have to justify their value to society like everyone else.

The problem is the fact that any couple, of any combination of sex or gender, now cannot afford a decent life without 2 full time salaries (or more, in many cases). That's a bad result of natural market forces that should definitely be addressed.

Women absolutely did work, but it was unpaid, so it wasn't tracked.