Twenty-four Hispanic American professional women drawn from the fields of education, social services, and government by the Women's Research Program of the National Institute of Education met to develop a national research agenda which would begin to address the educational and occupational needs of Hispanic women. Twelve papers presented by activists and researchers at the conference dealt with: the lack of political involvement of Hispanic women; Hispanic women in education in New York and Chicago; Puerto Rican women in higher education; impediments to organizing Hispanic women; the cult of virginity; guidance and counseling of Hispanic girls; an overview of La Chicana and Chicana identity; relevant social issues; approaches to education for the Hispanic woman; and the Hispanic woman's marginal status. Participants identified four major issues: the lack of accurate research on Hispanic women; the identification of barriers to organizing Hispanic women; the identification of factors contributing to heavy employment of Hispanic women in low level positions; and the impact of existing equal rights legislation on Hispanic women. Participants came to the conference from varied Hispanic backgrounds but achieved a unity independent of geographical differences which was reflected in a philosophical statement of purpose and in a series of detailed recommendations regarding policy and research. (SB)