An examination of the impact of the industrial society on women and their expectations, values, personalities and achievements in the labour force. It explores the changes that have occurred in western industrial societies and attempts to explain their reasons and effects on women and society.The waning of sexual inequality; women in the labour force; sex differences in early achievement; the social context of sex role socialization; the sex role and female personality; the chameleon syndrome; sex differences in the status attainment process; domestic roles and occupational choice.