Is There a “Glass Ceiling” for College Too?
Our current age has shown much growth in the realm of equality, but one of the unfortunate exceptions is the existence of the “glass ceiling.” This invisible but powerful obstacle is one of the most persistent monuments to the former days of sexism and misogyny. If you are unfamiliar with the term, it is defined by the Business Dictionary as “Invisible but real barrier through which the next stage or level of advancement can be seen, but cannot be reached by a section of qualified and deserving employees.” When this term is used, it most often refers to a denial of upward progress due to gender. According to the United States Federal Glass Ceiling Commission, 95% to 97% of the senior managers at Fortune 100 companies are white males, even though 57% of the workforce is female, ethnic minorities, or both. The disparity is very apparent in the corporate world, but does this same gap exist on our college campuses?
In an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (click here), Robert Drago examines the existence of the academic “glass ceiling.” In this piece, he refers to a 2005 incident at Harvard University, where the institution’s president stated that “relatively few young women were prepared to make the ‘near total commitments to their work’ required of successful academics.” And that “men may hold a biological advantage in the pursuit of science and engineering careers.” The fact that a president of one of the world’s leading universities can say that is strong evidence in favor of a “glass ceiling” even in higher education. This is also proven by the fact that the vast majority of female professors are given contingent positions, which provide less pay, fewer benefits, and less job security. This means that more men are given prestigious tenure positions, giving them an advantage to obtain leadership positions such as presidencies. In the world of higher education, it is still very much a “man’s world.”
These facts are very sobering, but there is a silver lining. The first step to solving a problem is to realize it. Therefore, if we work our hardest, and continue to demonstrate skill, it is my belief that the ‘glass ceiling’ will be shattered both in the corporate world and on campus. The power of education and discipline will surely overpower all discrimination and unfairness.