Glass Ceiling: Does It Still Exist? What can We Do to Eliminate It?

Glass Ceiling
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Glass Ceiling
In my opinion, the glass ceiling still exists today. In particular, the glass ceiling refers to the barriers that people of color or females encounter as they strive to move upward in their workplaces. In other words, they are challenges that hinder minorities and women from moving up in the leadership or management hierarchy (Foley, Kidder, & Powell, 2002). Glass ceiling prevents females from taking top-ranking or upper leadership positions in the workplace.
Despite women having outstanding educational and career qualifications, some things hold them back from getting management positions in numerous organizations. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, only 29.1% of women assumed chief executive positions in the workforce (Lockert, 2022). Men still dominate the top leadership positions and a significant percentage of organizations prefer to have male to female leaders. Even when women are competent and highly skilled to take up management positions, it becomes hard for them to be promoted. Discrimination and unconscious bias against females are some of the things that hinder females from taking up numerous leadership positions.
There exist barriers put by those who dominate leadership positions that hinder women from becoming leaders despite their academic and professional qualifications. Glass ceilings exist due to traditional gender roles, cultural beliefs, gender discrimination, and female assertive behaviors. Minorities and females face stereotypes that hinder them from career progression, promotion, and taking up managerial positions (Foley, Kidder, & Powell, 2002). Some people believe that women cannot become effective leaders since they are caring, kind, and emotional. Masculine features associated with leadership positions are authority and power. In addition, glass ceilings are caused by the unequal treatment of girls and boys that start during early childhood. When girls portray behaviors or talents that can make them compete with boys, they are not motivated. Some organizations have made it clear that they prefer male applicants in specific jo...