The author reviews the Spindlers' work over many years which repeatedly demonstrated, through the use of several objective techniques and statistical treatment, that men and women react differently to culture change across different cultures and time periods. Women were found to be more conservative but more flexible and thus better able to cope with culture change. Bourguignon discusses the relationship between fantasy and instrumental activity in women undergoing culture change. She presents data from her own work on women graduate students making career choices and women in possession trance religions. She concludes that in both cultural samples, a wishful fantasy is enacted in a culturally approved way.