Cracking the Glass Ceiling: Has Anything Changed for Women in the Workplace?

It's been almost 25 years since the phrase "glass ceiling" was first coined and the concern about women being thwarted in their effort to reach the upper echelons of executive management was voiced. Nevertheless, there still appear to be gaps in the career opportunities offered to women.

The 2008/2009 special report, "Holding Women Back," from talent management consultancy DDI, is a bi-annual study that measures the impact of leadership initiatives around the world. The most recent study involved 12,000 leaders from 76 countries. What this and several other recent studies found is that women still have trouble getting the right breaks.

Several Workplace Studies Show Glass Ceiling Still in Tact

A February 2009 study from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and Harvard University suggests that men benefit from MBA programs more than women. Research from October 2008 by the Institute of Economic Affairs in the U.K. indicated that women are less prepared to do what it takes to achieve the top spot, whether that means putting in long hours or brown-nosing.

The general consensus is that women's careers suffer because of their desire to have a family life. Whether or not this is the case, the DDI study shows that there are also organizational issues that prevent women from further advancement.

The fact is that even though there are more women in the workforce than ever before, this is not translating into more women in leadership roles; the higher the level, the smaller the number of women. DDI suggests that one primary reason women have failed to advance is that they have not had equal access to the developmental experiences which prepare them for higher levels. And organizations provide increasingly less support for women as they move up the management ladder.

This study goes on to suggest that there is a kind of "favoritism" to men in leadership development programs. In addition there appears to be gender discrimination in human resources programs "that identify, support, promote, and evaluate future talent, such as succession planning or formal mentorship programs."

What Women Can Do to Improve their Career Growth Opportunities

Oddly enough, a couple of years ago I wrote an article on this very subject. At that time I concluded that there were four primary reasons women bump into the glass ceiling and offered suggestions of what they could do to help themselves. They are still valid today.

Reason One: Exclusionism

You've probably heard of the "old boy's club." It's still a problem today. The best way to counteract its effect is to develop strong alliances and build good relationships while casting off stereotypes on both sides of the aisle.

Reason Two: Commitment

This is probably one of the biggest hurdles that women encounter because many employers believe that the women they hire will quit to begin a family or care for elderly parents; therefore, they resist investing in a woman's career. In fact, the lack of opportunity is quite often what pushes women away.

The best step is to show a commitment and willingness to take on new challenges and risks. Don't wait to be asked, step up to the plate. Go beyond book learning and higher education, and learn about the business, including multinational and international opportunities. Be vocal about personal ambitions.

Reason Three: Wage Gap

Employers sometimes view women as less committed because they are paid less, so they pay them less because they are less committed. Overcoming wage gap differences can be difficult because most women are starting out at a disadvantage, and to try to close the gender gap is often impossible. Learn to negotiate and ask for what you deserve.

Reason Four: Role Models

While there are more role models today than ever before, it is still difficult to have someone to emulate when they are facing the same upward climb as you. Find a mentor - male or female - and once you've made it to the top, turn around and help the woman behind you.

Yes, the business world is still riddled with a variety of misconceptions, assumptions and historical biases towards women in the workplace. But just because there are still difficulties, doesn't mean you should stop trying. It is important for you to persevere and go for what you want because you may find you can at least crack the glass ceiling.