Ideological problems and barriers leading to the failure of the World Conference during International Women's Year (IWY) are discussed. Support for the International Year and for the conference was not unanimous within the United Nations and funding was small compared to other UN-sponsored world conferences. Also, at a late date the government of Colombia withdrew its invitation to have the conference in Bogota. The subsequent invitation from Mexico, although accepted, was considered a result of personal ambitions of then President Escheverria. A tremendous defeat occurred when priorities of IWY were ordered in the form of a Draft International Plan. Developing countries, the majority of the consultative committee, agreed that the focus of the conference should be on the problems of society and the New International Economic Order. As the conference convened it became clear that attention was to be riveted on issues that had little or no relevance to the problems caused by sexual discrimination. Ideological lines were drawn between Third World nations and Western countries. Relative to this issue, it must be remembered that female representatives of Third World countries were often wives of high officials or women professionals who existed socially at a great distance from the mass of women in their own country. In conclusion, the ideological debacle of the IWY conference raises serious questions about the structure of the UN and the uses to which it is put. (Author/KC)