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There may have been consequential progress regarding women and equality. But society may still find it challenging to admit that women can break the glass ceiling.
When the word “woman” is mentioned, what do people commonly associate it with?
Some might jump straight to the obvious and say motherhood, while others would think of its relative term, femininity. In its most fundamental definition, a woman is simply the state of being a female, encompassing those who are anatomically so and those who choose to identify as such.
Across time and over numerous conversations, the term has become blanketed, as much as conversations directed to establish its definition can be controversial.
Women have existed since time immemorial. But society has still grappled with coming to terms with capturing their essence. Womanhood is an identity that doesn’t dwell on specifics, transcending characteristics to instead focus on what women can achieve. However, more often than not, being a woman may still be reduced to softness and subordinance, especially in the workplace.
What Restricts Them From Moving Higher
When people are described as being caged in an imaginative box, it means that they’re restricted in their ideas or way of life. A similar concept represents a limitation imposed on women in the occupational hierarchy.
Inequality and injustice are nothing new in today’s society. However, such aggressive prejudice thrown toward a specific gender can be observed as more prevalent than any other. Women have always been discriminately deemed second in gender discussions, and this becomes most evident in workplaces.
Propping up the Glass Ceiling
The glass ceiling symbolizes a barrier prohibiting women from succeeding or moving to more esteemed positions. It’s one of the most common barriers to success in the workplace, which, unfortunately, only impacts a specific group. The glass ceiling shares a similar conversation as matters relative to feminism, given its common victims are female. This gives them fewer opportunities for growth and success.
Regardless of whether they’re more knowledgeable or skilled than their counterparts, women may still see fewer opportunities for promotions. Despite proving themselves worthy, they’re held back by persisting stereotypes and beliefs. While the glass ceiling may be an apparent intolerance toward women, it also impacts businesses’ chances at success in the long run.
Hence, in helping women break this barrier, society isn’t only eliminating this bigotry but also helping communities and establishments prosper.
While Invisible, Such a Barrier Is Prevalent
Author Cheryl J Corriveau touches this controversial concept in her book The Demanding River. While it focuses on overcoming hardships that come with turning over a new leaf, the story also touches on a woman’s journey within a male-dominated industry.
As a story of a woman’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, readers follow the protagonist’s determined venture despite uncertain circumstances. Jordan Harris may have dived head-first into a field where being a woman might evoke questionable comments. But she chose to turn a blind eye and focus on achieving her goals, and her resolve didn’t fail her because, in the end, she triumphed.
What Jordan experienced isn’t far from reality. On a global scale, women comprise only 25% of senior workplace positions—the percentage that proves women can break the glass ceiling.
It can be assumed that more women make up lower-scale statuses, and this number can’t generalize the overall conditions in workplaces. But it may still beg the question of why only a fraction of women are given the opportunity. If anything, this data showcases an extreme disparity between male and female prominence, a manifestation of workplace barriers and the little regard for women in leadership.
Women on the Same Level
Equal opportunity for women in the workplace has always been the objective. Beyond the business setup, women have always sought equality with their male equivalent. They’ve fought for diversity, equity, and inclusion against cultural biases and societal norms. Women have proven their capacity. But time and time again, they can still be belittled and deemed inferior.
While there may have been significant progress regarding this domain, proving that women can break the glass ceiling, some have remained entrapped. Regardless of whether women have notable positions, they may still report to a male boss. It’s probable that men occupy most businesses’ management and senior positions.
There can be a lot of factors influencing women’s position in the workplace. Nonetheless, it’s about time to consider their potential and the fact that women can break the glass ceiling.
How Women Can Break the Glass Ceiling
Women are already capable of conquering this glass ceiling. It’s up to society to allow them to step over the glass they’ve broken. Women can break the glass ceiling, and it’s not about changing guidelines and implementing stricter rules. Instead, it’s about eradicating unwritten prejudices that most men may choose to justify.
A massive step is for men to recognize that women can be above them. This may seem like a simple and straightforward ideology, but it’s something men choose to overlook.
A movement called “He for She” has been established to provide a concrete solution to this problem. This encourages men to take on mentorship roles for women, helping them naturally obtain leadership roles or higher positions. While this movement might still place a crucial role on men to assist in women’s career advancement, it’s also a massive step in recognizing what women can do and achieve.
Women can break the glass ceiling. But when they’re too deep into problematic waters, they may still need help from men to do so successfully.