Navy women were not an “auxiliary,” a term that overtly confers lesser status, but a naval reserve like the men’s. They were “in” the Navy, not just “with” the Navy, a key win. But there remained many inequities. Women reservists were entitled to the same pay as men, but not to retirement benefits. At the outset they could not hold top ranks. Mildred McAfee, the charismatic president of Wellesley, accepted appointment as director of the WAVES. She was a lieutenant commander at first, promoted to captain in 1943. She was often cut out of decisions, however, and deprived of the support needed to
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