A DAY IN THE LIFE

A DAY IN THE LIFE
OF FEMALE STUDENTS

During the years of World War II, the average female student at Westinghouse High experienced an array of different social constructs. Many of these being racially driven conflicts which often coincided with acts of segregation throughout school districts. While some Westinghouse students state that it was usually common knowledge to simply know one's boundaries on the matter, the presence of discrimination was still striking in the lives of the youth.

Another element of the 1940s high school experience was the overall environment which constituted strict regulations on behavior. Female dress code was strongly enforced. Dress and skirts were the standard. Pants were forbidden. One of the popular trends of the time was the "cut out dress". It was a simple but stylish example of the era. Young women would cut out the design, sew it up, and then garnish it with a belt.