The mythical "glass ceiling" for women
Filed under: Career
The longer I'm in the business world, the more I believe that there is no such thing as a "glass ceiling" for women. At one time, I think it did exist. Women had few choices in the workplace in the 1950's and 1960's, and often had to pick between being a teacher, a nurse, or a secretary. It was rare for women to be in high-powered positions.So of course, it has taken time for women to get the opportunity to have the same jobs and same pay as men. And I think we've been there for a while. Women have every opportunity that men do, and it's up to them to take advantage of it.
The Milwaukee Business Journal did a story last week that was promoted on its front page with the tag: "Thick Glass Ceiling." (subscription required) The story lamented the fact that of the 100 highest-paid executives at Milwaukee area public companies, only six were women. I have a hard time understanding, though, how the reporter can suggest that this number is proof of a glass ceiling.
Does this number prove that there's wide-scale discrimination against women? Or does it instead prove that women haven't done what it takes to get to the top? It's rather popular to speak out for women's rights and to say that women should be "given opportunities" to be CEOs and CFOs. I completely disagree. Women should earn those opportunities. And they can earn them, as proven by those who already have.
I own my own company, and I work primarily with men. My clients are generally partners at law firms, and the number of women in those positions is low (but steadily increasing). In my eight years in business, I can honestly say that I never felt discriminated against because I was a woman. I never felt that I wasn't awarded work because I was a woman. (In fact, there are a few cases that I got because I was a woman!)
Oh sure, there's an occasional sexist comment or reference made. But I've never been made to feel that I'm anything "less" than my competitors just because I'm female. My clients recognize the hard work and sacrifice I put into my business, and I've been rewarded because of it. I didn't need anyone to "give" me an opportunity, because I've always earned it.
I'm all for fairness in the workplace. I just don't buy that women are being discriminated against on a wide scale and being held down by some glass ceiling. I don't buy that women aren't being paid enough. If they think they're worth more, they should demand more money or go get a job that pays them more. The market will decide if they're worth more.
I think the glass ceiling is an imaginary concept that no longer exists, and is merely an excuse. It makes for good sound bites and discussion, but this isn't an issue that we need to spend time lamenting, because it really isn't an issue except in some rare cases.
Women have never had it better in the workplace, and there have never been more opportunities available to them. They can compete in the marketplace for whatever positions they want, and the marketplace will decide if they're qualified. Want to be a C-level executive? Stay in the workforce, work extremely hard, and work toward jobs that will give you the necessary skills and experience to be a CFO or CEO. Want to work part-time hours? Find a job that offers you part-time hours, but don't complain that your career isn't keeping up with the group of people who were once your peers.
It's all about figuring out what you want and doing the work it takes to get there. And complaining about an imaginary glass ceiling doesn't get you very far. It only takes time and effort away from the work women should be doing to get the experience and qualifications needed to move up.
Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-24-2008 @ 5:04PM
Julie Tilsner said...
I do have to point out that men climbing the corporate ranks have the extra help of wives, who stay at home, raise their children, keep their household running smoothly, (or manage the servants) and generally assist their steady ascent up the ladder. After all, a family man is a balanced man. Good executive material. Women climbing the same ranks can hire a personal assistant, a maid, a full-time nanny (if they insist on wasting 9 months out of their careers to breed, I mean), a cook, a therapist and a stud service...all in an effort to replicate the services a wife provides for free...but I guess it's not really the same thing. I guess women aren't trying hard enough.
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6-24-2008 @ 5:12PM
Tracy Coenen said...
I think it's more about choices and trade-offs. Having a family may involve career trade-offs. I know female executives who have house husbands, so it goes both ways. I don't have anything against a woman executive who wants to make children a priority, but then her movement up the career ladder isn't impacted by a "glass ceiling." It's impacted by her personal choice. I'm not saying being a mom and a career woman is easy, just saying that it is a choice.
6-24-2008 @ 7:58PM
Kelly said...
I'll agree that there is no glass ceiling when I see a woman president. Until then and until I stop seeing degrading terms applied to women in positions of power, I will subscribe to the glass ceiling theory.
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6-26-2008 @ 3:27PM
Beth said...
This is a bit of BS. You see so few women at the top because they're overcoming far more obstacles than men. Maybe there is no *universal* glass ceiling, but I can guarantee that the Old Boys Club is alive and well.
I'll echo what Kelly said above. It may be more possible today for women to get ahead, but we usually have to work much harder and make many more sacrifices--and are often still expected to maintain our proper societal roles.
Saying there's no longer a glass ceiling isn't particularly insightful, especially when you insinuate that women simply aren't trying as hard as men to get ahead. ;)
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6-24-2008 @ 10:03PM
al coholic said...
So how do you explain away statistics that show women made only 81% of what men do for exactly the same work in 2005? By your logic it's just their own fault for not working hard enough. Google relative pay scales for men and women if you don't believe me.
The gap is presently closing at a rate of about 1/2% per year, so in 40 years or so, if the trend continues, it will finally equal out.
It sounds like you have worked very hard and are a successful business person but for every one of you there are hundreds of women making less than their male counterparts solely because of their sex.
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6-24-2008 @ 10:15PM
Tracy Coenen said...
Can you cite a specific source for these statistics? I'd like to see how "exact same work" is defined. Does that mean the same job title? Or does it really compare job duties? How do the statistics factor performance in? I'll be interested to see what the studies say about these things.
6-27-2008 @ 10:09PM
Tracy Coenen said...
Interesting numbers that might support your thinking:
ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/lf/aat39.txt
6-25-2008 @ 6:54AM
Tracey said...
While I commend you for owning your own business. I'd like to point out the fact...you own your own business...my suggestion would be try entering the corporate world as a non owner and come back and tell us how far you made it up the ladder of the Gentleman's Club/Good Ol' Boy Network. I worked for a company for many years and watched extremely qualified women make it to a "certain" management level and "cap off" ...it "appeared" only men were permitted to be executive officers. (I myself made the choice from a career/home perspective to stick with middle management again my choice and I'm content.). The question begs did you have to become an owner of your own business in order to climb the ladder due to fact it's a man's world?
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6-25-2008 @ 9:23AM
Tracy Coenen said...
Answer: No. I'm not denying that there are bad businesses and bad people. There are plenty. But there are lots and lots of smart people in businesses. If someone is performing at a high level, someone is going to capitalize on it. I guess I'm just rejecting a widescale conspiracy theory, and suggesting that in the majority of cases, there are reasons why women don't move up which have nothing to do with gender.
6-25-2008 @ 12:52PM
Tracy Coenen said...
Additional thought: I do believe there is a good old boys club in certain industries or certain companies. I've seen it. But my belief from what I've seen in corporate America is that there's more of just "A Club". And it doesn't matter what gender you are. You get into the club by doing the work and getting results and having goals and ambitions that are mapped out and that you're willing to strategically work toward.
6-25-2008 @ 7:16AM
al coholic said...
Fair request....I don't have time this morning but check back later today and I'll dig back where I found this and post it later.
The whole point of my comment was that yes, perhaps some women(like yourself) are driven so hard that they can beat the odds, but that to suggest that women are on totally equal ground with men in compensation is to reject reality. Compensation for self employed people like yourself is obviously more equal, as is commission sales or teaching. But in the every day office environment there is still a substantial disparity.
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6-25-2008 @ 11:44AM
carostripes said...
Its fine to put your opinion on your blog and all, but you should recognise it and state it as just that: An opinion. You cannot try to debunk a theory that has been statistically proven, and proven through the countless accounts of other women through your one life expereince. While I am estatic that you have never had to face the trials of a glass ceiling and never felt unwelcome or treated unfairly due to your sex, your single experience is not enough to convince me that thousands of women out there who complain about a glass ceiling are completely wrong.
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6-25-2008 @ 12:23PM
Tracy Coenen said...
Can you please cite a source for the statistics?
6-25-2008 @ 2:28PM
al coholic said...
Tracy read this.....I think it is a fair evaluation of the wage situation as it relates to men vs women.
http://blogs.payscale.com/ask_dr_salary/2007/04/men_vs_women_sa.html
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6-25-2008 @ 2:34PM
Tracy Coenen said...
This is an excellent article and is exactly what I'm talking about. The wage comparisons that have been done are usually comparing all jobs done by men and women, and don't factor in that women choose different types of jobs (and therefore have different rates of pay).
I do not deny that there are instances of women being paid less than men because of discrimination. But I also think that women have a responsibility to demand equal pay if that's what has happened.
I had a discussion today with a friend about jobs and opportunities chosen by women, and we agreed that there are many reasons why women seem more likely to choose careers that pay less than careers that men often choose. I think that happens a lot, but then the pay differences aren't because of a glass ceiling, but because of personal choices.
Now that I've ticked off a lot of people, I think I will use this article you've cited for a follow-up post. I think this issue is worthy of discussion, even though I think the majority of commenters on these threads will disagree with me. :)
6-25-2008 @ 4:40PM
al coholic said...
You said....
"I do not deny that there are instances of women being paid less than men because of discrimination. But I also think that women have a responsibility to demand equal pay if that's what has happened."
So we agree, I just happen to think it is more widespread than you think. Look, a lot of women don't have your moxie. Plus they may be single parents who already miss more time than some of there male co-workers and may be shy about standing up for their rights. Don't underestimate the pressure these women are under to stay afloat financially. A lot of them feel they are so close to being broke they dare not risk their only income on a fight over principle.
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6-26-2008 @ 6:30AM
Christine said...
Women can't bear to admit that they have created their own glass ceiling, and continue to wipe it clean with Windex on a daily basis. The truth is painful, but there are far more women out there who choose partners who are not as supportive of their career goals as they should be, and as a result, these women's career goals suffer and they are relegated to either staying at home or becoming possibly lower paid, part time workers. If you want to have a truly satisfying career AND be a mother/housewife/PTA mommy, you either need an unbelieveably flexible partner or a partner that stays home while you go to work. However, the majority of American women who choose to have children sacrifice their career, so please stop whining about "the glass ceiling". Historical feminists didn't work for what they did so you could become martyrs to your husbands and children, demanding special rights for women/mothers in the workplace - they worked so that you could get out of the house in the first place. Imagine if things were different and you had NO choice? Honestly, I cannot understand women. Take responsibility for your personal choices (like choice of partner, lifestyle, children, etc) - the healthy sense of entitlement of the average American woman is one of the big reasons why ALL of us are not taken seriously academically or in the workforce.
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