Preview

Glass Ceiling Is a Myth

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
507 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Glass Ceiling Is a Myth
Many a time, the most difficult of barriers that suppresses us, are the ones that we create ourselves. One of the most perpetuated lies propagated by contemporary feminist groups in the world today is the existence of a phenomenon called the “Glass Ceiling” (the GC). The essence of this theory is that of an apparent existence of an imaginary suppressing factor at a high hierarchical level prohibiting the upward rise of women along the scalar chain. Supporters of this theory, attribute its existence to the rising and chronic structural discrimination against women as a gender in favour of men. More often than not, this theory is used as an excuse used by women’s own failings in today’s corporate sector. Ghinny Rometti (CEO, IBM) and Ursula Burns (CEO and Chairman, Xerox) are two of the many women who have been shattering this ‘glass’ in the face of the contemporary world today.
This phrase was first professed in March of 1984 by Gay Bryant. In an ‘Adweek’ article by Nora Frenkel, Bryant had expressed, "Women have reached a certain point—I call it the glass ceiling. They're in the top of middle management and they're stopping and getting stuck. There isn't enough room for all those women at the top. Some are going into business for themselves. Others are going out and raising families."
Normally, feminists point to the apparent inequality in the pay between women and men for getting the same job done. However the very fundamental concept that is ignored is that women more often than not, take up a less demanding career path in order to leave the soil on grounds of maternity leave and/or other pivotal family decisions. Correcting for that factor, there’s virtual equality in payment of salaries and bonuses. It is also a statistically established fact that the courses women usually major in college and humanities, liberal studies and social sciences, whereas men take up economics and engineering courses more often than women. It is a no- brainer that knowledge in

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The author starts the article off by claiming “the glass ceiling metaphor, a framework of the 1980s, constructs discrimination processes in a particular way in particular organizational frame works.” (Bendl) Using a procedure of metaphor evaluation to examine the glass ceiling metaphor to determine whether it continues to exist and be useful in economic contexts. The authors then analyze the recent “firewall” metaphor for its usefulness for constructing discrimination in organizations. Which the author states remains hidden in the glass ceiling metaphor. Both authors analysis suggest that both metaphors are useful in constructing diverse aspects of discrimination. In context, however “firewall” tends to have a greater utility due to its “complexity,…

    • 309 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    For decades intelligent, ambitious, business minded women have had their careers stunted by the boys’ club cooperate glass ceiling that exists in companies all across, not just the United States, but across the globe. Women have had to take a backseat to men even though they have had the same education, training, and drive as their male counterparts. Women have been bashing their heads against the glass ceiling trying to gain access to the boardrooms and CEO offices of cooperate America with the end result being the concussions they have sustained for all their hard work and dedication. It has taken the persistence and hard work of a few pioneer women to finally begin to crack this glass ceiling and ultimately shatter…

    • 2014 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Analysis However, his story create an unfair barrier between genders in the workplace. By using the “theoretical perspectives,” it will prove that men are having more benefit in female-dominated jobs due to the “Glass Escalator,” and women are being treated unequally because of the “Glass Ceiling”(Ridnor,Macionis). Pink collar jobs were traditionally dominated by women since World War II.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is a supposed "glass ceiling" when it comes to women in the workforce. This "glass ceiling" is a metaphor for a presumption that women are not able to reach the top of the business ladder because of their gender. Today, Hispanic-American women face challenges living between two cultures, and one of these is in employment. The so-called "glass ceiling" is even lower for them. Hispanic-American women receive reduced wages and are forced into stereotypical fields because of stereotypes and discrimination, and from their education.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Despite the education and experience that a woman has, often times they receive a lower right of pay. I have seen this first hand in the mental health field. I have had more education and experience than my male counterpart, yet he has always held higher…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Even with all the advancements of women, we should not forget about the challenges that we are still facing today. In the present day work force, women are still discriminated against due to the “glass ceiling”, a term used in describing a perfectly qualified person to be held back in a lower level position because of discrimination.…

    • 1173 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Shambaugh, Rebecca. It 's Not a Glass Ceiling, It 's a Sticky Floor: Free Yourself from the Hidden Behaviors Sabotaging Your Career Success. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 29 Oct. 2013…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 2011 an article in the Guardian Business Newspaper stated “The Equality and Human Rights Commission claims…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Glass Ceiling Thesis

    • 1110 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Members of the women’s movement say that “The Glass Ceiling” prevents women from moving into executive positions. The first thought of The Glass Ceiling came to forefront in 1987. Women believed they were unfairly being paid less than men, but what these women did not…

    • 1110 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women are enrolled in colleges just like men and they finish their bachelors, however, many degrees that require higher education are dominated by men. The one thing in this article that I don’t really agree with/understand too comprehensively is the gender pay gap. Women do earn less according to studies, however these studies are very broad, they don’t take into consideration the jobs that are being done by men and women. It’s the 21st century, and to make a decent amount of money one should focus their attention to STEM subjects. If we look at the graduation rates for STEM fields, these areas of study are dominated by…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This can be referred to as the glass ceiling ‘’ the “glass ceiling,” which presents an impenetrable barrier at some point in a woman’s career’’ (Morrison, White, & Van Velsor, 1987). Because of that will affect women at some stage of their career because of them being unable to go forward within their workplace or go higher up after a position within the workplace ladder. Even though sex discrimination has been introduced within the workplace many women are still in low pay, low status, gender segregated jobs (Davidson 1992)…

    • 1176 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Women lack a voice who will advocate for them in promoting their abilities and skills to help them accomplish the upward mobility they so desire both in the workplace and in their careers. They are held to a higher standard than men because of their new found independence and drive to be successful. Gender Inequality has been an ongoing problem that has impacted society for many years. Although there are a number of issues associated with the topic, the concept of the glass ceiling and women’s exploitation are important and very real in today’s society. This paper will cover a brief history of gender inequality, the transition of women from home to the workplace, the concept of the Glass ceiling and exploitation amongst women in the workplace…

    • 1229 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women have experienced a historic situation of inequality in the social as well as professional aspects. Women are normally the ones that would take care of the children, do the household chores, and in rural areas; they would work in the field with the rest of the family. Just like how the Breaking Barriers article states, “from an early age, girls are dressed in pink boys in blue. Boys are given trucks to play with while girls are offered dolls [..] girls are assigned household duties like washing the dishes and doing laundry, while boys are relegated to mowing the lawn and talking out the trash” (18). Gender inequality in the workplace is becoming less common; yet, gender is a factor that affects both men and women. Also, in Breaking Barriers article it says how “females and males often choose career paths that are traditional for their gender” (18). Females are usually seen in jobs such as nursing or paralegals. Males are typically doing jobs that have to do with welding, carpentry, or engineering. Women could have the same capabilities and maybe even higher qualifications than a men going for the same position, but because of gender inequality the male is more likely to get the job then the female. Men and women should be offered the same job opportunities no matter what gender they are; it should be based on their ability to complete the…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The barrier that prevents many women from attaining the most powerful, the most prestigious, and the highest paying jobs in work organizations has been labeled the glass ceiling (Biber 58). The glass ceiling is largely to blame for why many professions are gender-disproportionate. It also makes work hard for women in leadership roles because many times they are put in positions that set them up for failure. The odds of women being influenced by the glass ceiling are less when women have influence over policymaking decisions, perceive empowerment, and experience organizational equities (Sabharwal). However, women are less likely than men to be put in charge of these jobs. Therefore, women are affected by the glass ceiling either…

    • 1615 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Inequality In America

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This invisible limit on women’s climb up the corporate ladder poses as a very difficult hurdle to dodge towards success in the work place (Conley 315). If a person simply cannot go any further in their job, why would they bother to put forth more effort? In order for a company to succeed, it is necessary for its employers to go above and beyond what they are expected to do; when a person feels that they no longer must do this, however, the bare minimum will most likely be expected of these people. Women make up 46.5 percent of the workforce in America, yet they only occupy less than 8 percent of the head corporate positions (The Conundrum). This number is astounding based on the percentage of women that make up the workforce in total, and is frustrating for the women who are well-equipped for the job at hand. If this glass ceiling barrier were to be broken, the workforce would have a more equal balance of corporate heads, and would most likely have a more productive workforce because of this. With everyone is striving to make it to the top, all will be going further than what is expected of them. Based on the glass ceiling provided to women in the workforce, a barrier is created that must be broken through to improve productivity and equality within the work…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays