The Glass Ceiling Effect

The term glass ceiling refers to situations where the advancement of a person within the hierarchy of an organization is limited, usually because of some form of discrimination, most commonly because of gender and/or race. This situation is referred to as a ceiling because there is a Hmitation blocking upward advancement, and glass (transparent) because the limitation— normally an unwritten and unofficial policy—is not immediately apparent to those who eventually encounter it. 

Research performed by Catalyst, a nonprofit research and advisory organization specializing in issues related to women and business, shows that men and women exhibit similar leadership styles, but that men do not face the persistent gender stereotyping that women business leaders ftequendy face. Men are still viewed as default leaders and women as atypical leaders, with the perception that women violate accepted norms of leadership, no matter what their leadership behavior. 

For instance, the Catalyst research continues, if women business leaders act consistent with gender stereotypes, they are considered too soft. If they go against gender stereotypes, they are considered too tough. Women leaders face higher standards than men leaders, and are rewarded with less. Often they must work doubly hard to achieve the same level of recognition as men leaders for the same level of work and prove repeatedly they can lead. When women exhibit traditionally valued leadership behaviors such as assertiveness, they tend to be seen as competent but not personable or well-liked. Yet those who do adopt a more stereotypically feminine style are liked but not seen as having valued leadership skills. 

The Catalyst findings strongly suggest that gender stereotypes lead organizations to routinely under-estimate and under-utilize women s 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990. It affects every employer with 15 or more employees as of July 1994. The intent of the ADA is to prevent discrimination against quahfied people 

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