This study was written as the Finnish contribution to a symposium convened to describe and analyze for comparative purposes the factual development of the position of women as educators, i.e., as employees in the school sytems of different countries. The study emphasizes the close connections that the position of women in the school system have with the general history and development of the country. Women as educators in Finland are described according to six historical periods in the development of Finnish schools. Simultaneously, statistical data concerning the proportional shares of women are presented for both historical and international comparison. The paper compares women's share in the teaching force of Finland with their proportions as principals or heads of schools, as functionaries in higher educational administration, as holders of positions of trust in trade unions of teachers, and with the general share of the women of Finland in the political decision making and planning of the country on the one hand, and its active labor force on the other hand. (Author/JD)