How did prohibition help liberate women?

Answer 1

At the time of Prohibition (which was enacted in the year 1920) very few women had any job other than as some man's wife, and therefore they were dependent upon their husband's income, but it was quite common for women to be afflicted with alcoholic husbands who spent all their money on alcohol, leaving little or nothing for their wives to feed the family and pay for other family needs. The main purpose of Prohibition was to put a stop to this. Of course, in practice, lots of men simply bought alcohol anyway, on the black market, at even higher prices, so their wives did not benefit. But some men did respect the law and stopped drinking, thus making more money available for their wives.

Answer 2

Prohibition provided new opportunities for women to participate in the public sphere, such as becoming involved in the temperance movement. By taking a stand against alcohol, women gained a platform to advocate for social change and were able to demonstrate their ability to influence policy. Additionally, prohibition led to a shift in social norms around alcohol consumption, giving women more freedom to express themselves and challenge traditional gender roles.