Although commitment to equal opportunities in employment has been a major component of European Community legislation and although increasing numbers of European women are entering professions, women throughout Europe still face many barriers to advancing in their professions. Since the early 1970s, European governments including Finland have worked to increase the numbers of females enrolling in vocational and professional institutions. Although Finnish women under age 50 are now better educated than men, gender still remains a strong factor influencing people's career choices/behaviors, and men still hold more technical, professional, and managerial positions. In Finland and the other Nordic countries, the transformation of professional education and scientific knowledge has begun through women's studies. Finnish society and Finland's social services already offer support systems for women seeking to combine family and work responsibilities. By using the following strategies, educators and counselors throughout Europe can promote gender equity and women's career aspirations: enhance individual autonomy; help women develop strategic career plans, gain autonomy and decision-making authority, build an identity, network, and obtain mentor support in building a career; recruit nontraditional students; and eliminate harassment. (The bibliography contains 13 references. Appended is a list of 35 related European Community publications.) (MN)