As long as a family could afford to have the mother stay at home, this type of family was able to survive. For many families, however, this was not financially possible. As the cost of living rose in the United States, more and more women needed to work outside the 50 home. At the same time, an emphasis on equality for men and women opened the door to new job opportunities for women. Before long, single-parent families, blended families, and even extended families were becoming more common.