Blog #36

The “glass ceiling” is the idea that women are unlikely to make it to the top. The glass ceiling is still a problem, even though it is significantly less of a problem. Women are more experienced than in the past and are perfectly talented and capable of keeping up and competing with males colleagues. Women are still not in top leadership spots because they still want to have control over their lives and balance the other aspects of work. The top jobs mean that you have to be on call 24/7 and make the company the top priority over their own life. Differences between men and women in the workplace tend to get men promotions while women’s differences tend to be geared to their family life. Corporations often assume that women are not ambitious and they are not as willing to listen to their goals and needs. Many of the listeners on “Talk of the Nation” said that it is up to the woman’s personal choice whether or not they want to climb the cooperate ladder. One woman said that she has had the opportunity to climb that ladder but does not want that top position because she wants to be able to have time with her family. Other women decided to work more when their kids were younger so they could spend time with them when they are older. It was suggested that cooperation’s look at the different patterns that women choose and acknowledge those differences. I think that many of the opinions expressed on the issue were insightful and mostly correct. I do believe that ultimately it is the woman’s choice to spend more time with her family that ultimately causes the lack of leadership positions for women. If women made their work their top priority, like men, then there would definitely be more women in professional careers and in top positions. However, I think that corporate America can lure women back into the workforce if they offer more flexible opportunities to balancing their family lives so that they can also get top leadership positions in their firms.