The Glass Ceiling

The Wall Street Journal coined the term “glass ceiling” about 20 years ago.  It refers to an invisible barrier that prevents women from obtaining high-ranking positions in business.  This is obvious by the disparity of men and women CEOs heading the Fortune 500 companies.  Currently, there are only 15 women CEOs heading the Fortune 500 companies.  Researchers still debate on why women don’t make it.

The following are some reasons that have been tossed around:

Women don’t do enough networking.  In other words, women will bury themselves in work hoping to be noticed.  Instead, the guys are out playing golf and networking.  By networking, they’re gaining valuable connections and they’re getting the inside scoop of the goings on in the company.  This heads up information will help them climb to the top. 

Women tend to nitpick; they obsess over details. 

Women don’t sell themselves they believe in meritocracy. 

Women take whatever salary is offered to them. 

Women don’t take risks.

Women are exhausted.  They tend to stay late at the office while the guys are out networking and once they go home, they have housework to do.

Women are content they don’t want to break the glass ceiling.

The above represents just a few reasons why a wage gap exists and the lack of women in high-ranking positions.   

What are your thoughts on how to break the glass ceiling or why the glass ceiling has not been broken?

Tags: equality, equality in the workplace, ERA, gender, women