While I don't really believe in a 'conspiracy' - I can easily see "targeted 'top down' forces" in the reverse direction...Limiting women's access birth control, abortion, etc. Hell - just getting your tubes tied can be 10x harder then getting a vasectomy.

If societal forces can be so effective in limiting women's choices/options, is hard to believe they could have had a hand in expanding them as well?

Why can't it be both?