The Social Sector’s Glass Ceiling: Why Women in Leadership Jobs Matter

The Social Sector’s Glass Ceiling: Why Women In Leadership Jobs Matter

Introduction

The glass ceiling still exists today, which effects women moving up the corporate ladder.  This seems to be the biggest barrier that is holding women back in the corporate world.  Yes it is 2015 and one would think that women and men should be equal in all ways, but there are still a few barriers that stop women from promotion. This paper will outline what the glass ceiling means and what it is, how it affects women, and how women can overcome the effects of the glass ceiling.

Topic Overview

Women today still have a hard time growing in corporate America.  Sometimes they are looked upon as not strong enough to do the job or that it’s not a woman’s place to be in a management position.  The articles that we read this week talked about women at the top of the company while their husbands stayed home to take care of the household and the fact that women give up the leadership roles because they miss the home life.  The glass ceiling seems to be an issue in some businesses but do women really want to miss out on family life to be at the top? “Women are far more likely than men to see gender discrimination in today’s society, and that women and men are seen as equally good business leaders, but gender stereotypes persist,” (Watson, 2015).  

Related Article Analysis

The glass ceiling is, “an unfair system or set of attitudes that prevents some people (such as women or people of a certain race) from getting the most powerful jobs,” (Merriam-Webster, 2015).  This happens all of the time, most of the time it is not always recognizable. Women are the ones that is affected by the glass ceiling.   “Two weeks ago, the Pew Research Center released the results of a national survey on women and leadership—results that still show major challenges in public life and the corporate C-suite for women in the U.S.,” (Watson, 2015).  Survey’s are still picking up on the glass ceiling effect that is affecting women. Women are needed in the corporate world just as much as men are, and would prosper just as much as men.  Women can overcome the glass ceiling effect by helping themselves.  They need to know their own value.  “Others won’t fully value your skill, expertise, time and potential, unless you do,” (Warrell, 2013).  

Relationship to Course Topics

This week’s articles talked about women moving up the corporate ladder while their husbands stayed home to take care of the household.  They also talked about how women don’t actually want to be at the top because it cuts down on their family time and free time.  Women should be considered for jobs the same as men in any situation.  

Conclusion

The glass ceiling effect is still around today, but not as bad as years ago.  Now it is a wonder of whether women aren’t getting the job because they’re women or the fact that they want their family time over the promotion.  The articles of this week show women at the top and how their husbands stay home and take care of the household or how women turn down jobs because they want the family life.  If it isn’t one of the above reasons women don’t take a position it’s that women are still falling into the glass ceiling. Women can overcome this by proving that they are just as competent as men when performing a executive position.