A study examined the employment patterns of women working in the United Kingdom's hotel and catering industry and the opportunities for vocational education that would lead to careers in management. Sixty-four women from different sectors of the industry were interviewed (including women in senior and middle management and some still looking to be promoted into management positions). A smaller but comparable sample of 13 men were also interviewed to examine their attitudes as selectors, colleagues, and competitors of the women interviewed. The women turned out to be less likely than men to plan their career. Unlike the men, the women were content to allow the steps in their career progression to unfold, taking advantage of opportunities as they materialized rather than actively seeking to create the opportunities they needed. The traditions of the hotel and catering industry were also against them, especially the tradition of working up to management from a craft position. Current trends toward replacing these traditional routes to management by allowing people with higher diplomas and degrees in catering to enter the management sector still leave women to contend with the obstacles of an industry that has a legacy of male domination. Differences in the types of training typically received by women also tended to direct them toward senior staff rather than management positions. It was more typical, for example, to see women promoted to senior personnel positions rather than to positions as food or beverage managers. (The 10-page survey instrument is included.) Career histories are presented of 12 of the women and men interviewed. (The questionnaire is included.) (MN)