Beginning with the premise that the abilities and talents of women in American society are being expressed only fractionally, the author suggests we take a look at our total culture in order to understand what is happening to women and men. Significant change needs to be far-reaching to make it possible for each individual to attain maximum potential development and to express this in satisfying ways. The author proposes that women should be allowed to choose to become, or not become, wives or mothers. The current and relevant societal pressures on women are examined. Arrangements such as part-time work and child care centers are viewed as helpful, but not as providing solutions to the basic problem of rigid cultural expectations regarding men and women. Literature on the learning of sex roles is cursorily presented and it is concluded that really basic changes would need to start with the training of young children. (TL)