Differences in the personal and career characteristics of men and women secondary principals were examined by comparing data from a study of women high school principals with data from a National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) study on the secondary school principalship. Data for the study of women principals were provided by 97 women secondary principals who completed the same questionnaire used in the NASSP study of 1,131 male and female principals. The comparison revealed that a larger percentage of women than men principals were minority group members and a smaller percentage majored in educational administration. Although the women entered administration at approximately the same age as the men, they became principals somewhat later. Men principals appeared to have higher career aspirations than did their female counterparts. In several categories women principals exhibited greater job satisfaction than that of their male counterparts. This study suggests further studies on the relationships between career patterns and job performance. (Author/JM)