- Prior to World War II, women in high schools had limited options when it came to pursuing careers.
- During the war, they were heavily recruited to work in factories, shipyards, and other male-dominated industries to replace the workforce of men who were overseas fighting.
- This experience exposed many women to alternative roles other than homemakers and showed that they were just as capable of performing these roles as men.
2. Economic and social changes
- The departure of men for military service created economic and social changes that also impacted high school students.
- Many teenagers were forced to take on adult responsibilities, such as working to support their families or taking care of younger siblings.
- These responsibilities made it difficult for some students to continue their education, and they were more likely to drop out of high school.
3. Increased awareness of social issues
- World War II brought increased awareness of social issues such as racism and discrimination.
- This was due in part to the fact that American soldiers were serving alongside soldiers from other countries and experiencing different cultures.
- The war also exposed the injustices faced by African Americans and other minority groups in the United States.
- These experiences led many high school students to become more active in social justice movements and to fight for equal rights for all Americans.