For the women who left the field but wanted to continue working or studying, postwar opportunities were mixed. Women who served in the U.S. Navy qualified for the GI Bill, at least in theory. For returning servicemen, the GI Bill was a life-changing benefit that put college within reach for middle-class men. For the Navy women, however, their experience of GI benefits was hampered by the old idea that women are not suited for the highest levels of learning.
