US WOMEN: BREAKING THROUGH THE GLASS CEILING

Abstract

Although 40 per cent of US managers are women, only about 5 per cent of the top level managers are women. Middle and top level women managers were surveyed by a questionnaire. Nearly all say women are under‐represented in their firms, mainly because the men at the top are reluctant to promote them. As a remedy, education was preferred over legal measures. Key barriers include: managers′ stereotypes about women′s credibility, career commitment, and decision‐making ability; various subtle forms of exclusion. Key techniques for overcoming the barriers include: skills in communicating, problem solving, decision making, motivating, delegating, and supervising; understanding the firm, its people, and its politics; co‐operating as a team member; developing personal power (poise, inner resources).

Citation

Carr‐Ruffino, N. (1991), "US WOMEN: BREAKING THROUGH THE GLASS CEILING", Women in Management Review, Vol. 6 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000001801