ABSTRACT
Women have been especially lacking in the ranks of scientistic researchers and students training for these careers. A number of causal explanations for the high achievement orientation or desire for success in these “achievement” areas for men and the nonachievement orientation of or relative lack of concern with “success” of women have been proposed. The available research suggests that women are expected to do more poorly than men at numerous tasks. One of the groups in which changing attitudes seem to be occurring is in women. College women no longer tend to evaluate the performance levels of women as lower than men. Women’s mutual supportiveness may be especially needed in male fields such as science. Of course, as more women enter fields such as science, there will be more role models for future women scientists. A final issue for professional women is their responsibility for two roles. Most women in our society want to get married and have children.
