This overview of women in the work force indicates the need for increased attention to the career development of women and their attainment of equal status in the world of occupations and work. Continuing occupational segregation and salary differentials, sociological analysis of the male bias in occupational status analyses, psychological evidence on barriers for women, and limited relationships between expressed and inventoried interest, all argue for a focus on exploration validity rather than predictive validity for interest inventories. Further, this focus views interest inventories as part of an intervention (treatment), and suggests additional criteria for studies of the effects of interventions. Recent studies of effects and the criteria used in them are reviewed. Additional criteria are needed to provide for the articulation of educational, occupational, marriage, parenthood and homemaker roles. (Author/MH)