The Glass ceiling is generally defined as the invisible, artificial barriers that prevent qualified individuals from advancing within their organization and reaching full potential, especially in the management ranks and the decision-making process. This "glass ceiling" has held women back from certain positions and opportunities in the workplace for centuries. The reason that I am researching this topic is because I am a professional woman in the workforce and I often feel stigmatized by this "glass ceiling". Women are often stereotyped as part-time, lower-grade workers with limited opportunities for training and advancement because of this "glass ceiling". The main question at hand is, how have women managed their careers when confronted by this glass ceiling?
Confronting the issue has been difficult; American women have struggled for their role in society since 1848. Women's roles have changed significantly throughout the past centuries because of their willingness and persistence. Women have contributed to the change pace of their role in the workplace by showing this same motivation and perseverance. The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 started a women's rights movement; a small group of women demanded the right t
· make procedures for recruitment and promotion more objective
· take care that the qualifications required for a position accurately reflect the nature, purpose and function of a job, rather than a preconceived notion of who should perform it
· make the recruitment and promotion process more structured and transparent
In the 1950s, women comprised less than one third of the labor force. Women had their place in the workforce, yet it was not very influential. Women had to fight to hold their positions while confronting many hardships. They had to contend with management efforts to rationalize work with their family's expectations of being a mother. Women also had to live up to their family heritage and what their family's thoughts were of a woman in the workforce.
The research that was provided in this article is substantial for anyone wanting to go into business management. So many steps and procedures must be understood and documented to avoid any misunderstandings within a place of business. This "glass ceiling" issue is not going to slump back into its hiding place. Discrimination in the workplace will never change. By using the information that Ann Coughlan has provided in the aforementioned article, you as an employer or manager can truly understand the nature of this problem and prevent any unwanted situation from happening.
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