[kube-system]

That's because being a maid wasn't even seen as an equal to the idea of a "working class job" as we see it now. Someone who had to support a family at that time would have been presumed to have an income from a man's job. Someone working as a maid was presumed to not have their own household to support and had their housing provided.

[notfbi]

I think this is a fair point. Also a live in maid is not comparable because it probably includes full room/board.

[Thorrez]

I doubt a live-in maid has a husband.

[kube-system]

That is what I mean by “presumed not to have their own household”