My Journal

What is the glass ceiling?

The term ‘glass ceiling’ is used mainly in terms of discrimination against women in companies. It basically describes the phenomenon that it makes it difficult for people of discriminated groups to move to higher leadership positions.
From a certain point of view, a glass ceiling that is invisible from below seems to prevent these groups to further ascent.

The proportion of women in the board of DAX companies is still comparatively high at 20 percent. According to DIW Manager Barometer 2022, they accounted for only 14.7 percent in the board of the 200 largest German companies. If one also considers other companies and management positions outside of the board, women in Germany accounts for 29 percent of the executives in the Federal Statistical Office. Germany is quite bad throughout the EU and is going to be 20th place. Real diversity looks different. (* desired.de )

To change something, basic conditions for women to make careers need to improve as well as prejudices towards women in leadership positions need to be further reduced.
One idea to stimulate this process actively and allow more women to break through the glass ceiling are women’s quotas. Critics fear though that less competent women could snatch away the jobs of competent men, but in fact, the opposite could be the case: competent women finally get the opportunity to fill the jobs that are sometimes occupied with less competent men!

Food for thought:
Women usually work a career level lower among their skills, whereas men often apply a career level over their skills. Studies show that women often apply for job positions only if they meet almost all the requirements while men try their luck even if they meet few of the criteria they are looking for.