In past ages, women raised children, and sons followed in father's job footsteps and most jobs had a labor intensive quality to them and lacked creative input. The job world was oriented toward what was practical and immediately commercial. Today people think in terms of what they want to do with their lives. A world of choices. The sky is the limit.
People today think in terms of careers.
You can even change careers, sometimes several times. Of course those attitudes don't characterize everyone, but they do apply to many. Work has probably always given life purpose, to a large extent, and today we are much more aware of that because it is a choice we have to examine. From the time we get up in the morning until we arrive home for dinner, our mind is occupied with work. For many, work occupies the remaining hours until bedtime through work they bring home, or by travel and entertaining clients, or just being available by phone, or worry.