Women do not contribute to the arts, sciences, and humanities commensurate with their talents and potential nor in proportion to the opportunities available to them. This study investigated variables or combinations of variables which best predict lower achievement and career motivation in women: self-esteem, fear of success, vicarious achievement ethic, home-career conflict, work-discrimination beliefs, sex-role orientation, risk-taking behavior, social structure, and perception of parents. A cross-cultural study was conducted of subjects drawn from various ethnic and socioeconomic subcultures in the United States and Iran. The subjects represent three age groups of women and men: high school, college, and women returning to college after an absence of at least five years. Data analysis of the nine predictor variables indicates that the impact of societal changes (legal, attitudinal, and social) has not yet removed the factors that are inhibiting women's achievement and career motivation. (Author/ND)