The purpose of this paper is to contribute to an understanding of the causes of the restriction of women from positions of authority in the workplace. Ascertained is the extent to which the sex gap in authority can be explained by the following three factors: (1) women's qualifications; (2) the attitudes and behaviors of employers; and (3) the attitudes and behaviors of women themselves. It is found that while the amount of the sex difference in authority that can be explained by women's qualifications is substantial, it is not the most important factor responsible for the restriction of women from positions of authority. Furthermore, there is strong evidence suggesting that the attitudes and behaviors of employers are much more important causes of sexual differences in authority in the workplace than are the attitudes and behaviors of the women themselves. (Author/GC)