Varun,

I am not an expert but I will give it a go. As is used here because it is used as a comparison of two things. Another exmample a woman could say: I am pretty, just as my mother was.
By Definition:
Definition of LIKE
transitive verb
1chiefly dialect : to be suitable or agreeable to <I like onions but they don't like me>
2a : to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : enjoy <likes baseball> b : to feel toward : regard <how would you like a change>
3: to wish to have : want <would like a drink>
4: to do well in <this plant likes dry soil> <my car does not like cold weather>

Definition of AS
1: to the same degree or amount <as soft as silk> <twice as long>
2: for instance <various trees, as oak or pine>
3: when considered in a specified form or relation -usually used before a preposition or a participle <my opinion as distinguished from his>

It is saying as to the same degree as the women did. People commonly misuse like in modern day society and to be honest, you just have to know the difference between the usage of like vs as while taking the GMAT. When I think about this I also think of For Example as a synonym for as.

So on with the question. Obviously you now have A and C. C changes the meaning of the sentence as it says that the husbands are working BEFORE World War II. C says that they had been doing it ONCE WORLD WAR II had begun.

That is all I got. I am sure an expert will come in with some sweet technical language that will make me look silly, but I honestly hope that helps.

-BP

thanks