I have a Young Adult fiction example supporting this which I read 14 years ago.
J.K. Rowling has Hermione going to forbidden library to read dangerous books. But J.K. Rowling couldn't think of searching books like Google search does. On the other hand, J.K. Rowling could think of time turner i.e. a time travel device. Considering physical laws, time travel is impossible but google search is possible. Still JKR couldn't think of google search.
Also, plenty of women worked. In 1950, women were 32% of the work force (in the US), earned 60% of what men earned and had little room for advancement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_United_States_lab...). So either his grandfather was simply completely unaware of how many women actually held jobs even then or he wondered why they'd want to work the same terrible jobs men do, because they certainly didn't do it for fun.
As written out, it is suggested that it is a lack of imagination.
I think a better narrative is just that it is work, and who would vulontarily have to work if they don't have to.
This is the more compassionate narrative.