Glass ceiling

The glass ceiling refers to discriminatory barriers that prevent women from ascending to positions of power or responsibility and from ascending to higher positions within an organization simply because they are women (Li & Leung, 2001). It is also defined as the persistent, conscious and unconscious obstacles, and attitudes that hinder access to senior management positions for qualified women.

 

The glass ceiling thus refers to the most frequent vertical discrimination against women in companies.

 

The term was first popularized in the 1980s to describe the challenges women face when their careers stall in middle management roles, preventing them from reaching higher executive or leadership roles.