Glass Ceiling: Women Happy Under It?

Pulse

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Friday, March 2, 2012, 16:40

How many corporate companies have women at the top most positions in their management? Why doesn't USA, the self proclaimed most advanced country in the world still not have a single lady President? We hear only silence in answer to these questions and that is why the glass ceiling still pretty much exists. What we do want to investigate on Women's Day 2012 is whether women are happy under this invisible barrier. Does it in a way save the them the trouble of striving hard enough?

Here are some of things that are worth our attention on this Women's Day 2012 when it comes the glass ceiling and the corporate woman under it.

Are Women Happy Under The Glass Ceiling?

1. In Two Minds: This means no offense but women will eternally be in two minds; home or wok. It is the curse of a woman who is brought up to believe that she is the nurturer of her family but her education frees her mind. So due this back end thought of home and hearth that keeps surfacing time and again they are not able to pursue their career as aggressively as they ideally would have.

2. Why Break It When There Is No Need? That is a valid question; I mean necessity is the mother of invention. Most women who are working are otherwise pretty well provided for. At the stage in life that they should be reaching the top brass of the corporate ladder, their partners too have made it big. So salary for women is not such a pressing 'need'. Mark the word 'need' not 'desire' because if someone has a fire in their belly they will scale all walls.

3. Too Much To Give Up? Women are always made to give up more be it in marriage or at work. So late work hours take less toll on a man's life than on a woman's. For example, a man can miss his child's first steps but can a woman miss her duties to nurse her baby? Difficult choice. On top of that the added pressure of breaking through the glass ceiling seems like fighting someone else's battle.

4. Corporate Policies Made By Men For Men: Like our social rules, corporate policies too are made by men and for men. The same men who said that women should not have the right to vote because they are too 'emotional' say that a woman should not be allowed to lead because she is not 'strong enough'. It is a viscous cycle.

5. Loyalty Issues: When an organisation gives a corporate woman the top-most office then they are investing in her. They always have this lurking fear that tomorrow she might get pregnant and quit or her husband might get transferred and she will move. Just not dependable enough are they.

On Women's Day 2012 this reality check should help you decide where women really stand in respect to the corporate glass ceiling.