The Glass Ceiling Phenomenon :: Business Management Studies

The Glass Ceiling PhenomenonThe Glass Ceiling is a barrier to prevent women rising to thehighest positions in an constitution as a result of informalexclusionary practices (cited in Giddens 2002, pg, 552). Thesepractices include sexual harassment, sexual discrimination andpregnancy discrimination.Explanations for the glass ceiling phenomena derive from thestereotype of women into traditional roles. Many men still carry theattitude despite living in this modern day and age that women argon notcapable of high managerial roles and that their place rightfullybelongs at home along with the house-hold chores. There is also thepoint that many corporate firms think twice before employing women forthe efflorescence position, in terms of their level of commitment, for it isinevitable that every woman will want to have a child at some point intheir life. However maternity leave is viewed upon as an expense interms of money and the valuable time that is wasted in order to fillthe indolent po sition.The organisational structure is another barrier that women have tocontend with for it is evident that most firms are male dominated andhuddle together when it comes to after work friendly activities, thusleaving the woman to feel as an out cast.An article published in The Guardian 25/09/2002 backs The GlassCeiling phenomena as it shows that women are still not making it tothe top of their professions, despite thirty years of equalopportunities policies in the public and voluntary sectors. Whilethere may be some women higher up in management it can be argued thatthese are just token positions so that the corporate managementcannot be incriminate of discrimination. Those few who are successful inmaking it are then dealt the blow of being paid substantially less