glass ceiling
Transparent promotion obstacle
A glass ceiling is an invisible barrier that prevents certain groups—especially women and minorities—from advancing beyond a certain level in a workplace or organization, despite their qualifications.
The metaphor suggests you can see the higher positions above you but cannot reach them.
She shattered the glass ceiling when she became the company's first female CEO.
The term emerged in the 1970s and remains central to discussions of workplace discrimination and corporate diversity.
Gender-based prejudice
- patriarchyMale-dominated social order
- misogynyHostility toward women
- gender biasPrejudice based on sex
- wage gapDisparity in earnings
feminism · women's rights · gender parity · leadership gap · role models · breaking barriers · second shift · workplace inequality
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- stereotypingOversimplified group-based judgments
marginalization · disparity · unfairness · privilege · racism · ageism · ableism · classism
Organizational rank structure
- career plateauHalted upward job mobility
- upward mobilityRising social or economic status
- corner officePremium workplace for leadership
- senior rolesPositions of elevated authority
sexism
Gender-based prejudice
- patriarchyMale-dominated social order
- misogynyHostility toward women
- gender biasPrejudice based on sex
wage gap · feminism · women's rights · gender parity · leadership gap · role models · breaking barriers · second shift · workplace inequality · male-dominated
bias
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
stereotyping · marginalization · disparity · unfairness · privilege · racism · ageism · ableism · classism · homophobia
corporate ladder
Organizational rank structure
- career plateauHalted upward job mobility
- upward mobilityRising social or economic status
- corner officePremium workplace for leadership
opportunity gap
Unequal access to resources
- Modern Feminismintersectionality, riot grrrl, reproductive rights, workplace equality, pay equity
- employmentjob, jobs, career, careers, interview
- workplacehours, cubicle, desk job, holiday party, desk
- women's historywomen's history, herstory, women's movement, suffrage movement, notable women
- building featuresentrance, entrances, exits, lobby, lobbies
- Building metaphorsfoundation, building blocks, cornerstone, pillar, framework
glass ceilingopen door
Barrier removed for entry
upward mobility · level playing field · career ladder · fast track · equal opportunity
glass ceilingbreaking through
Forcing past an obstruction
breakthrough · representation · inclusion · parity · equity
glass, ceiling, glasses, glazed, glassy, ceilings, glassware, glazing, glazier