There was a good article in Scientific American back in the mid 80s which
made this same point about labor saving devices and "woman's" work. More
time is now spent cleaning the home because the standards of cleanliness
rose. Of course women do spend less time chopping wood for the stove
nowadays.

I don't think so. Judging from my grandmother, you had to
keep an extra person in the house full time, just to sweep.
That's the REAL purpose of extended families.