I think there are many issues to consider
My girls n my DiL all work, only my DiL could financially afford to stay at home, but there would be a lifestyle choice for her! Her Canadian parents both worked after having their children, they had au pairs etc. so for her nursery care is normal.
Our youngest daughter is a medical research scientist. If she gave up work, her university education would be wasted. It is not a career you can successfully pick up after a long break. In fact her maternity leave was not as generous in terms of time as her sister and SiL, but she works in a university under a medical research grant.
Whilst our eldest daughter needs to go to work to pay the bills. They do have a good lifestyle, but it doesn't run to holidays.
All our girls know they will need their own private pension to top up their state pension (if one exists for them), added to which they have all been highly educated and I believe they love their careers, and love being a mum too. Equality surely means they should not have to choose.
I was a Sahm, for 12 years and worked in the evenings and or weekends to ensure there was enough money for extras. We had UK holidays most years.
But on the one hand we are told we need 50 million immigrants to pay taxes and the pensions of a large older generation, whilst our birth rate continue to fall. Yet my parents and ourselves had child friendly policies to encourage the cost of bringing up families. Tax allowances for marriage, children, mortgage tax relief. And the governments now need our working daughters to bring in the tax revenue. Whilst schools have no charges, and many mums choose to go to work, it is seen as unacceptable for mums to work with younger children. But in many European countries and other countries it is the norm. Many mums in America have no maternity leave, but also need or want to go back to work, so child care is either provided by employers or parents, or nurseries.
I think this is progress, choice and equality. My own mother was aghast that I went from part-time teaching when the youngest was in junior school to full time, not because I worked but she realised I would also be running a home with three children! DH did all the DiY and gardening though!