It was also uncommon for women to be working outside the home.
For generations, if not centuries, lots of women have worked outside the home because there was no choice. They had to eat, and sometimes had to help support kids. What was rarer was women
choosing to have careers which they'd train for, and which they intended to keep, as opposed to just "jobs", which they used to give up when they got married, usually. Getting good pay was rare too. Still, professional women were around.
Carolyn could do anything she wanted, unless her grades were so bad that college was just out of the question. I doubt there was pressure on rich heiresses to be domestic, or avoid becoming preofessional people, if they wanted.