A study of the opportunities for women in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is reported along with suggested policy directions for government programs. Focus is on identifying the gaps that have appeared or grown wider in recent decades between, on one hand, existing laws, policies, and institutions, and, on the other, the aspirations of women and the reality of their working lives. A chapter is devoted to each of the following topics: (1) consequences of growing participation and changing roles of women in the labor market, (2) the problems of achieving equality of pay and employment, (3) the influences of education and training, (4) flexibility of working time and child care arrangements for working parents, and (5) the evolution of social security legislation to deal in a consistent way with men and women. In the last chapter, the main trends of member countries are identified, and measures, programs, or policies which might help member countries towards the solutions of problems facing them are outlined. (MEK)