TW A THILE the selection of Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative party in 1975 and as Prime Minister in 1979 and 1983 suggests that British women have made greater strides in obtaining central-level political office than U.S. women, further analysis indicates that in general this is not true. In 1983, for example, only twenty-three women (4 percent) were elected to the House of Commons, compared to about the same proportion (5 percent) currently in the U.S. House of Representatives. The twenty-three British women represent only a slight increase over the number sitting a half century earlier (fifteen in 1931) (Rasmussen 1983a; Charlot 1979). Thus British women, like their U.S. counterparts, are lagging far behind in achieving meaningful representation in the central legislature, despite the achievement of Mrs. Thatcher. The purpose of this study is to try to understand better the nature of opinion toward women as central-level officeholders in Britain. Specifically, we shall examine public opinion on the topic in order to identify the primary sources of opposition to and support for women in public office. Is opposition diffused throughout the public? Which groups in the electorate are more and less inclined to support women candidates? Are political activists especially negative toward women candidates? In general, where in the political system and party structure does resistance to women lie? Our findings will be compared principally with those from the United States. This comparison should begin to shed light on whether or not patterns of opposition to women in politics in Western democracies are crosscultural. In addition, we shall use the comparative perspective more broadly to consider why British women find it so difficult to become political officeholders.