Does the Glass Ceiling Still Exist?
By Kate Lorenz
Does the glass ceiling still exist, or is it now just a myth being propagated by feminist advocacy studies? While overwhelming numbers of women executives and managers say their career advancement is hindered by the glass ceiling, others deny its very existence.
Women Employed, a national organization that advocates women's economic advancement, says that the glass ceiling remains in place due to "the day-to-day practices, management, employee attitudes and internal systems that operate to the career disadvantage of women and minorities."
Other researchers say it's not so much the companies, but the social framework that hinders career progress. They say women are, on average, more reluctant than men to put themselves forward as candidates for competition, considerably more likely to interrupt their careers or leave the corporate world entirely due to work/family choices, and much less willing to play the political game. While acknowledging that the glass ceiling for women still exists in certain industries and organizations, Adrian Savage, in his report "The Real Glass Ceiling" contends that a far more common and impenetrable glass ceiling exists for women and men who don't want -- or know how -- to play office politics.
"Dealing with the politics is the job at this level," he says. Most everything else can be delegated, but the politics -- the exercise of power and influence in decisions on strategy and resource allocation -- is what top executives do." In fact, the new rules are so important to the way top teams function that even highly talented people who can't conform will be blocked or eliminated. Though few people talk about it, this is the real glass ceiling."
Does the glass ceiling still exist, or is it now just a myth being propagated by feminist advocacy studies? While overwhelming numbers of women executives and managers say their career advancement is hindered by the glass ceiling, others deny its very existence.
Women Employed, a national organization that advocates women's economic advancement, says that the glass ceiling remains in place due to "the day-to-day practices, management, employee attitudes and internal systems that operate to the career disadvantage of women and minorities."
Other researchers say it's not so much the companies, but the social framework that hinders career progress. They say women are, on average, more reluctant than men to put themselves forward as candidates for competition, considerably more likely to interrupt their careers or leave the corporate world entirely due to work/family choices, and much less willing to play the political game. While acknowledging that the glass ceiling for women still exists in certain industries and organizations, Adrian Savage, in his report "The Real Glass Ceiling" contends that a far more common and impenetrable glass ceiling exists for women and men who don't want -- or know how -- to play office politics.
"Dealing with the politics is the job at this level," he says. Most everything else can be delegated, but the politics -- the exercise of power and influence in decisions on strategy and resource allocation -- is what top executives do." In fact, the new rules are so important to the way top teams function that even highly talented people who can't conform will be blocked or eliminated. Though few people talk about it, this is the real glass ceiling."
posted by Sarah | 9:33 PM
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