The Glass Ceiling
Four Reasons Why it Exists and What to Do About it
The term "Glass Ceiling" was first coined by two Wall Street Journal reporters in 1986 to describe the artificial barrier in women's careers. Find out where we are today.
For any woman who has yet to feel the affects of the glass ceiling on her career, she should consider herself lucky.
As recently as last year, a study by consulting firm Accenture indicated that about 70 percent of women and 57 percent of men believe an invisible barrier-- a glass ceiling --prevents women from getting ahead in business. But there is a glimmer of hope.
According to BreaktheGlassCeiling.com 97 percent of Fortune 100 companies have at least one woman on their boards and 188 companies in the Fortune 500 have two or more women directors; 34 companies have three or more women directors. And while 16 of 100 Senators are women – an all time high -- 74 women sit in the House of Representatives, including the first female Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.
So why do women still have to fight for the right to advance to the top? There are four primary issues that perpetuate the glass ceiling.
Exclusionism
One of the biggest issues that women still face is the continuing issue of the “old boy’s club” and women’s exclusion from this network. So what are they doing about it?
According to recent information from the Small Business Administration the number of self-employed women has increased by 33 percent over the last twenty years while one third of all American small businesses are owned by women.
Not all women are in a position to start their own business, so work on building alliances. Business has a lot to do with developing good relationships. Network with other professionals, male and female, both inside and outside the organization. Having strong interpersonal and team building skills will go a long way in advancing a career.
Commitment
Too many employers believe that women will quit to begin a family or care for elderly parents; therefore, organizations are less likely to invest in a woman’s career, when in fact the lack of opportunity is quite often what pushes them away.
Show a commitment and willingness to take on new challenges and risks. Go beyond book learning and higher education, and learn about the business. Think big-picture strategic issues, market trends, and changes in the industry. Be vocal about personal ambitions.
Wage Gap
Employers sometimes view women as less committed because they are paid less, so they pay them less because they are less committed. According to BusinessWeek, April 2007, while women earn just 80 percent of what men earn one year out of college, that figure drops to 69 percent at the ten year mark.
Overcoming wage gap differences can be difficult because most women are starting out at a disadvantage, and to try to close the gender gap is often impossible. Learn to negotiate and ask for what you deserve. Women should not settle for what they are offered.
Instead, they should research the market value for their skills. The human resources department is a great place to start because they can determine where someone falls within the company’s established salary range for each position based upon education, years of experience, and number of years with the company.
Role Models
Though there are more role models today than ever before, it is still difficult to have someone to emulate when they are facing the same upward climb.
One of the best ways to address this issue is to find a mentor – male or female. Women should select someone who will show them the ropes, help them navigate the political minefields and point them in the right direction to further their career. When they make it, they need to reach back and help the woman behind them. When possible, promote and hire other well-qualified women
Yes, the business world is still riddled with a variety of misconceptions, assumptions and historical biases towards women in the workplace. But just because there are still difficulties, doesn’t mean women should stop trying. It is important to for them to persevere and go for what they want because they just may find they can at least crack the glass ceiling.
