Why does the glass ceiling exist?
In many cases glass ceilings exist because of discrimination or poor working practices. In a survey by Accenture, only 30% of female executives and 43% of male executives said they believed women have the same opportunities in the workplace as men. Some managers hold pre-conceived ideas about women’s interests, responsibilities and career preferences. For example, sometimes women are denied challenging work assignments because their managers feel that they might have to leave early to collect their children from school. Or women might be told that they have not been considered for a position because it requires international relocation, and it is assumed family commitments will rule that out. Inadequate training and mentoring can also create inequality in the workplace, and a lack of female role-models at the top can also restrict women’s prospects of advancement.
