My favorite aunt was born in the twenties. She loved school. When she reached high school she was forbidden from attending because she was needed at home to help around the house and education was a waste for women and all she needed was to learn how to take care of a house so she could marry.

She tried attending for a while, getting punished for sneaking off to school, but it became too hard and she gave up.

In the 50s, she had an alcoholic husband who beat her. One time after beating her and passing out, she took a bullwhip to him and whipped him raw while he remained comatose, then got in her car and ran away to start a new life out West. Years later she wanted a divorce and he was still terrified of her and was extremely helpful.

I was top 5%, college prep, etc. My family wanted me to enter a trade like sheet metal or pipe fitting rather than wasting time and money on college. But I was living on my own by my senior year of high school and could define my own priorities in life and I chose college.