Women became smarter by getting more education, for which they gained a more equal position to men and developed more equal relationships with their husbands. Society's ideal for women was however still to be a housewife, and most women married after finishing their education/in their early twenties and devoted themselves to family life. A large part of early female education was dedicated to learning domestic tasks, such as sewing, cooking and darning. The training for housekeeping therefore shifted somewhat from the home to the school. Though higher education was available to women, it was still not common for them to enter university, let alone start a career in masculine environments. Most working women had assisting professions, such as secretaries, or worked in feminine spheres, such as seamstresses.
Well, by the 1920s, education was compulsory for all children in the USA and in the UK, and in many other countries. But people tended to leave school much earlier than they do nowadays, in the UK for instance the school leaving age was 14, and most children left school at this age to go to work. I believe it was the same in the USA, comparatively few people went to high school in those days. For most, leaving school and getting a job was more normal.
More women were going to college, for instance in the USA, women made up a third of all college students by 1880. But in the 1920s, there was generally a decline in interest in careers among women. Women who were training for professions (as opposed to just working at a job that didn't require a lot of training) were fewer in number than they had been before WW1. Women might work for a few years after leaving school or college, but most expected to get married, and to give up work when they did.
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Women became smarter by getting more education, for which they gained a more equal position to men and developed more equal relationships with their husbands. Society's ideal for women was however still to be a housewife, and most women married after finishing their education/in their early twenties and devoted themselves to family life. A large part of early female education was dedicated to learning domestic tasks, such as sewing, cooking and darning. The training for housekeeping therefore shifted somewhat from the home to the school. Though higher education was available to women, it was still not common for them to enter university, let alone start a career in masculine environments. Most working women had assisting professions, such as secretaries, or worked in feminine spheres, such as seamstresses.
Well, by the 1920s, education was compulsory for all children in the USA and in the UK, and in many other countries. But people tended to leave school much earlier than they do nowadays, in the UK for instance the school leaving age was 14, and most children left school at this age to go to work. I believe it was the same in the USA, comparatively few people went to high school in those days. For most, leaving school and getting a job was more normal.
More women were going to college, for instance in the USA, women made up a third of all college students by 1880. But in the 1920s, there was generally a decline in interest in careers among women. Women who were training for professions (as opposed to just working at a job that didn't require a lot of training) were fewer in number than they had been before WW1. Women might work for a few years after leaving school or college, but most expected to get married, and to give up work when they did.