The ideology of a feminine role is instrumental in maintaining the present economic structure that limits women's participation in the labor market. Women face special problems in their career development due to the socialization that prepares them mainly for homemaking, and a job market that continues to discriminate against them. A review of the literature examines how vocational counseling participates with the larger society in promoting limited work role functions for women. Recent developments of theories and tools attempt to diminish sex bias in vocational counseling. A review of research findings suggests that there can be a better understanding of the process of career development for women. Counselors are encouraged to draw on the cumulative data on women to develop an approach that will better address itself to the special career and life planning issues encountered by women. A model is offered which outlines the causal relationship among various factors associated with obstacles to women's career development, and which can serve as a theoretical framework from which a systematic approach to counseling women can be developed. (Author)