This paper reports a study where students fromseveral countries were asked to interpret shortstories presenting a career woman in a difficultsituation. The situation was sometimes interpretedas gender discrimination, but several othercompeting interpretations were offered. Whengender discrimination was mentioned, students oftenasumed that the event was taking place in "anothercountry," usually outside the "modern westernworld." These latter interpretations are furtherexplored in the conclusion