Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling

“The state controlling a woman would mean denying her full autonomy and full equality.” -- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling: Women in Management” is an eye opener for me. The facts presented were astoundingly proofs of discrimination on women. Occupational segregation was rampant causing women to be isolated on feminized occupation such as Nursing and Teaching. The facts also stated that women were put into lower job categories as compared to men causing an uneven and slow progress in elevating women in managerial positions. Moreover, women were excluded in important organizational functions or networks, where mostly comprised of men, which was quite vital for career development. As a result, women were not exposed to be given a chance to lever opportunities and handle demanding job responsibilities that would elevate and further advance their careers. On the other hand, if women were positioned in the top management level, perception or attitude towards them were less important. Also, there were significant earning gaps between men and women. Due to occupational segregation, women were assigned to a lower job position, less time and less significant thus earning a low salary compared to men.

Women in an organization or the business setting might really face various constraints. Sexual harassment, lack of acceptance by the male dominated workforce, discrimination in the aspect of proper training and mentoring, and they might also be subjected to inappropriate language or unwelcomed sexual conduct. Oftentimes, we see women as the weaker sex. We always tend to underestimate their potentials, abilities and skills. Furthermore, women are unfortunate victims of sexual harassment in an organization due to the strong perception of male dominated workforce that women are categorized as a sex object and that they are feeble enough to contend to man’s taunting thoughts. We tend to consign the women on household chores and take care of the children. Men have a propensity that women in an organization has a negative ratio as to mortality or work tenure due to their main responsibility which is maternity, child rearing and general household tasks.

"The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race." -- Susan B. Anthony

Fortunately, employers nowadays have adapted and started to recognize family-friendly policies that not only benefit the male and female employees but also helping and promoting a better office productivity output. Furthermore, a “capability testing exercise” was formulated to give women an opportunity to compete on equal footing with men and this would further eliminate gender job segregation. Some of its core competencies are communication skills, intellectual skills, relating to people, leading and motivating, resilience and drive, and lastly, political conviction. The competence exercise presented no difference between ratings of male against that of the female. Unfortunately though, due to the economic crisis and employment downsizing, women are opted to pursue self-employment. In view of this, women are aspired to have an autonomy, self-sufficiency and agility. More so, it surely escapes them from the threats of glass ceiling in large corporations and organizations.

“The only way to solve the problem of women’s subordination is to change people’s mindset and to plant the new idea of gender equality into every mind.”
-- Qingrong Ma

Figures of female students enrolled in colleges, universities and higher education is incessantly increasing. In fact, it goes beyond the number of male enrollees for some countries. Obviously, this will enable women to compete fairly for positions of a higher level like those of professionals and managerial ranking. Women nowadays have become aggressive, strong-willed and assertive. They definitely know what they want and would do anything to get it. Actually, tables were turned now. Male spouses are left at home to attend to the household chores while the women are out working. More so, situation happens where women are working overseas (OFW), handling the financials for the family.

This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race because they are easy and visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labour in which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned. We are really talking about humanism.
-- Gloria Steinem

I really believe that we human are born equal regardless of sex, gender and creed. Equality in all aspect is to be implemented. But if we are dealing with work and employment, my only concern is that who will be left at home to attend the needs – behavioral, psychosocial and academic – development of the children. We must bear in mind that at the end of the day, welfare of the family, meaning not just the parents but most importantly the children are to be attended well. Major problem and crisis of the external environment is caused by the unattended minor dilemma coming from the internal environment of the home.

The video below highlights Women Empowerment. The first video is entitled "This Woman's Work" sung by Neo-Soul Artist (my favorite!) Maxwell ; and the next video is entitled "I Am Woman" ....