This phrase is used to describe an invisible limit to a higher level. It’s most often used in reference to the barrier that keeps women from rising to the upper levels of management, despite having appropriate qualifications and experience.
Despite incredible success of individual women in business and public service roles, such as Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina and Hilary Clinton, the glass ceiling still exists. Many women make it to upper management levels, but few – very few, make it to the executive level of large companies.
It’s phrase that was probably most used in the 70s and 80s, there is some debate about who first used the term, and the concept was already referenced by Orwell in the 1930s but in a discussion of class difference.
Now that education and employment opportunities are gender equal the term shouldn’t be needed any more, but women still earn just 80% of what men earn in the US, and few companies have equal representation on the board room. Some commentators connect that to women’s own behaviour in the workplace – we’re not competitive, we don’t fight for it, we don’t network as well as men do. There may be some truth in that; amongst my women friends it’s unusual to ask for a promotion or pay rise – relying instead on a manager noticing your good work.
.
image The glass ceiling / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Change Meme 
Sure – it’s an interesting discussion. Thanks for the kind words.
It is a tough question, definitely! Therefore, I’d like to hear the opinions of my other blogger friends, so I put this article as a link on my blog – I hope this is okay with you?
http://discriminationsolicitors.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/speaking-of-the-q-word-the-good-old-glass-ceiling/
I think there are a lot of components, you’re right about (many) hiring managers/HR managers recruiting for a limited profile.
I’m not that keen on hiring based on a quota, I think it undermines the promoted woman’s credibility. Put simply, I had to think I’d been promoted on the basis of my gender.
However I think companies can look at building training and opportunities for women specifically. So that when there is an promotion there are quality candidates of both genders.
It’s a tough question though.
You’re definitely right – women are not that self-confident as their male colleagues when it comes to ask for a promotion or a pay-rise, this kind of modesty is not advantageous if you want to climb the ladder. However, I’m firmly convinced that managers or HR reps prefer hiring personalities which resemble their own personality. And as they often are male…
The Glass Ceiling do still exist – the question is how to overcome it. What do you think about a quota?