Shattering the “glass ceiling”

Girls growing up in the United States find male leaders plastered on every media source — from billboards to televisions to cell phones.

Leaders of multi-billion dollar corporations, like Bill Gates and Donald Trump, headline the news often. Even on the topic of women’s issues, men’s voices are heard prominently above others. In a study analyzing 35 national news publications, 81 percent of quotes about abortion were said by men.

When women do make it in the media, they are often put down or hypersexualized. The pressure placed on women to fit specific standards has many negative effects. In an article written by Rosie Swash in 2013 for The Guardian on female beauty standards, former fashion editor and style expert Caryn Franklin described a culture in which women are told they are only an exterior, without internal drives or goals.  

The reality is, in a society established and continuously run by seemingly strong, capable and qualified men, women are taught they don’t fit into the picture. The nation itself was started by a group of white men commonly referred to as the “founding fathers.”

The “glass ceiling” social construct is not a simple concept, but rather a real-world societal issue that women are forced to confront constantly. The term originated in 1986 when Carol Hymowitz and Timothy D. Schellhardt used it in a Wall Street Journal report.

The “glass ceiling” refers to obstacles that women face when pursuing higher leadership positions. However, the “glass ceiling” can also be used in reference to barriers that various minority groups face.

The female population makes up around 51 percent of the world, however the number of women in leadership positions is deplorable. According to The Pew Research Center only 26 females hold the position of CEO in 500 Fortune companies. And while the number of women in the United States House and Senate has progressed to about 20 percent, this number still ranks 75th out of 137 countries in a study analyzing the number of women in national governments around the world.

While ambition and drive are necessary factors in progressing towards a top leadership position, it is undoubtedly much harder to achieve this goal when women must combat sexist ideals along the way.

The perpetual stereotypes and assumptions women face regularly are disheartening and discouraging. As women, we are surrounded by sexist ideals that teach us that men are stronger both physically and mentally, and that men should be out making money while women stay home.

As a society, we make strides in breaking sexist patterns on a daily basis. However, sexism and the “glass ceiling” still exist and as individuals it is critical for this way of thinking to be changed. Women must also be empowered to break these barriers.

Even though women should not have to fight for their rights, they must — a sad yet undeniable fact. The strength of society is limitless, and in a communal effort we can shatter sexist stereotypes and the glass ceiling simultaneously.