Logician: I thought Popa had quoted Kol Kevuda, not Lo Tov. My bad.
It is a Machlokes Achronim whether psychological assumptions made by the Gemara can change. The Ritva clearly says it by “Ein Isha Meizes Paneha Bifnei Ba’alah Lomar Geirashtani” (I might have the precise phraseology off). R’ Schachter quotes R’ Soloveitchik as pointing out that there are psychological assumptions that are built into the Briah and those that are based off what the Gemara observed from those around them. R’ Soloveitchik held that those built into the Briah (his example was Tav L’meisan, if I recall correctly) cannot change and that it is K’firah (because it denies Dinim D’Oraisa) to say they can. But those observable can change, as the Ritva said. Presumably, Nashim Atzlaniyos is the latter but I can’t prove that.
My issue with the whole situation comes when hard-line assumptions trump common sense. I find it inconceivable that every single women’s job in life is to support her husband’s and childrens’ Talmud Torah. That might be what is true of the vast majority, but even they have their own Chiyuvim. There have been women in history who have clearly done important things on a national (or even local scale) and staying home and making their children learn would have been a tremendous waste for them.
My example often is Nechama Leibowitz (Sarah Schnierer is equally effective). Because of her classes and tests that she toiled over every week, she taught thousands of people how to teach. She has a tremendous amount of Zchuyos for the amount of Torah she was Marbitz. R”L, it wasn’t her place in life to have children. Should we say that she has no Schar for Talmud Torah because she couldn’t help her children learn? Of course not. She earned everything on her own and the world owes her because of that.
So yes, the main point for most women is to be behind the scenes and take care of a family. I do not think, however, that should preclude communal responsibilities if they are able. Ad’raba, if a woman is able to help out the community then she is obligated to because she is depriving Klal Yisrael by not doing the best of her ability.
DY: If I recall correctly that Gemara does have some context, no?