The Glass Ceiling
This term is often used to describe an ‘invisible barrier’ that blocks women’s chances of further promotion or advancement of their careers. It doesn’t apply to just individual women, but to women as a group, who are kept from advancing because they are women. To put it simply, male dominance is the main obstacle to women rising to the top positions of a company and in politics.
Exclusion from Informal Social Gatherings
This is the issue of women executives being excluded from informal social activities where there are indirect opportunities for corporate advancement. This is an obstacle to women in terms of developing rapport with their colleagues, potential clients, and male bosses. A significant consequence of women being excluded from these informal networks of communication is that women remain “the other” or the “outsider”. This seriously undermines women's strivings for equality within the workforce and in their progression into positions of leadership in particular.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is another serious problem for women in business. Harassment is used as a form of power by an employer; it intimidates and demoralizes women and creates an atmosphere of silence, because many women fear that reporting sexual harassment will jeopardise their careers. Current structures in place allow men to believe that they have a right to control women. Feminists believe that the ideas of gender roles are central to this understanding.
Alternative Approaches to Leadership
For many women who are within reach of the top positions, the costs of outperforming men and the lack of rewards in the struggle to the top are too high. Women-owned businesses are growing dramatically both in number and in economic viability. Women are leaving the business world and are drawn instead to business ownership because it allows them for greater control over their time, productivity, and advancement. As a result, businesses are under pressure to find ways to retain their most talented women.
References:
Jakobsh, D. (2012). Barriers to Women's Leadership. [Online] Available at: http://www.sagepub.com/northouse6e/study/materials/reference/reference14.3.pdf [Accessed 11 June 2015].
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