I share a lot of those memories but I the effort to keep women in their place WAS very apparent and painful in the 1970s.

Along with endless lessons, conferences, and firesides I remember

• women were banned from prayer in Sacrament meeting for a decade from 1968 http://www.the-exponent.com/women-praying-in-general-conference/

• this kind of talk was typical https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/10/the-honored-place-of-woman?lang=eng

• church leaders were leading the fight against the equal rights amendment https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/019-35-43.pdf

• rape victims were shamed and blamed in SWK's 1969 classic Miracle of Forgiveness.

And I think they were just reflecting the very strong cultural pressure from that immediate post-war era that shaped so many of today's top leaders. Sending Rosie the Riveter back home to the kitchen wasn't well received by all women, though all we seem to remember of the 1950s is a strong peaceful economy.

Mormon leaders in this time period participated by telling women they could no longer give healing or birthing blessings. Even as a nonbeliever, I think a birthing blessing given by a group of RS priestesses would be an experience that would give me courage and strength. I wish they still had that. https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/029-16-25.pdf