1. GLASS CEILING

Definition: metaphore, the term glass ceiling refers to situations where the advancement of a qualified person within the hierarchy of an organization is stopped at a lower level because of some form of discrimination.

Most commonly sexism or racism, but since the term was created, "glass ceiling" has also come to describe the limited advancement of the deaf, blind, disabled, and aged.

In a discussion of ascending the corporate ladder, the word « ceiling » implies that there is a limit to how far someone can climb it.

It is believed to be an unofficial, invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from advancing in businesses. This invisible barrier continues to exist, even though there are no explicit obstacles keeping minorities from acquiring advanced job positions.

There are not formal orders saying « we don’t want to hire black, women for this position ».

When does it come from?

1st used in article in Adweek, wrote by Gary Bryant, in 1984. A term which became a permanent part of the American lexicon, intensified by an article in 1986, published in the Wall Street Journal.

2. Glass ceiling

The terme GC had been taken very seriously by the Department of Labor when they used a definition of it to organized a Glass ceiling Commission in an effort to « level the playing field ».

Since, Glass Ceiling expression has known extension of it, for specific situation:
Glass elevator, implying that there is an invisible vehicle that transports men up through the ranks of corporate power
Glass cliff to a position that a woman may take that will put her in the precarious position of utter professional disaster if she fails

3. TYPES of GC barriers

✓ Different par for comparable work and qualifications ✓ Sexual, ethnic, racial, religious discriminiation in the workplace ✓ Lack of family-friendly workplace policies ✓ Exclusion of informal networks

Illustration of glass ceiling, with some