This paper will discuss the many challenges that women faced in the workforce. There are not many women occupying the highest rank position in an organization, and those that are fortunate to hold a position there finds it very difficult to break the glass ceiling. This paper will further discuss why this is so, it will give a brief definition of glass labyrinth and glass ceiling, it will focus on transformational and transactional leadership, and it will also discuss management interventions that will support women’s success in the future. As stated earlier, women have a very difficult time trying to break the glass ceiling.
The glass ceiling are obstacles that prevents women and people from the lower working class to move up on the mobility ladder. It prevents them from being leaders and causes them to be stuck in a position that is not as rewarding as those that are high ranked such as CEO’s, and board of directors. This then in turn would give men the upper had since they fill the majority of the high ranked positions. Glass labyrinth is where one finds many challenges and obstacles that they must observed, confront and defeat in order to find them self at their desired position. This might be a long and hard journey.
The similarities between glass ceiling and glass labyrinth is that they both restrict women for higher achievement in the business cooperation world. They deliberate build barriers that stops them from becoming leaders or a part of the leader’s board. Therefore, causing them to be stagnant at any positions below CEO’s and board of directors. The differences between glass ceiling and glass labyrinth is; the glass ceiling was set in place by men to stop women from becoming leaders. According to the Harvard Business Review, “Nixon said, I don’t think a woman should be in any government job whatsoever… ainly because they are erratic. And emotional. Men are erratic and emotional, too, but the point is a woman is more likely to be”. (Women and the labyrinth of leadership, pg. 1).
The glass ceiling shuts out any woman that tries to be a leader regardless of the credentials, and their ability to do the task of a leader simply because women are known to be vulnerable. The glass labyrinth is reveals the hardship of journey that a woman will face in order to get to the top. Those women that have made had to fight to get there. There were many stumbling blocks, and even though they have made it, it is still a fight to that position.
One idea from the article that caught my interest is the glass labyrinth. According to the Howard Business Review article, “Passage through a labyrinth is not simple or direct, but requires persistence, awareness of one’s progress, and a careful analysis of the puzzles that lie ahead. ” (Walls all around, pg. 2). With that being said, even though the glass labyrinth creates many barriers for women in the business field, there is still a way for women to get to the top. It might not be easy, but at the end of the battle, it shows the strength that women have within them.
It shows that women are not as vulnerable as men make them out to be. Its shows that women can be leaders, not just any leader, but successful leaders of change and a bright future. Furthermore, it is defeats the system of patriarchy. Another interesting idea taken from the article is that, even though women have more experience than men and are more capable of doing the job educationally, they are still earning less than men. It has been for many years that women are faced with discrimination in the work force, and it is very unfortunate then even today in the 21st century they are still faced with these barriers.
Additional, this issue is very necessary to today’s society because, society needs a president that will bring the economy up. Not just for those at the top, but for the benefit of all citizens. Women work just as hard as men, possibly harder at times, especially because they also have to take care of their home and children. Therefore, there needs to me a system that allows women to be appreciated for their hard work, rather than discriminating them under the systems of patriarchy and sexism.
Yes, there are certain traits that are considered as leadership qualities, but why is it that when women who are leaders, or women that are pursuing to be leaders, have to portray a leader in a way that is likely to that of how a man would be? In the article the prime minister of Canada states that, “I don’t have a traditionally female way of speaking…. I’m quite assertive. If I didn’t speak the way I do, I wouldn’t have been seen as a leader. But my way of speaking may have grated on people who were not used to hearing it from a woman. It was the right way for a leader to speak, but it wasn’t the right way for a woman to speak.
It goes against type. ” (Resistance to women’s leadership, pg. 3). It is saddening that women aren’t able to be successful without having a male’s aspect and attributes being attached to it. The article describes females as more transformational. This model serves women to be more productive. This reason for this is, according to the article, “Transformational leaders establish themselves as role models by gaining followers’ trust and confidence. They state future goals, develop plans to achieve those goals, and innovate, even when their organizations are generally successful.
Such leaders mentor and empower followers, encouraging them to develop their full potential and thus to contribute more effectively to their organizations. ” (issues of leadership style, pg. 4). With that being said, women do not solely aim for the success of a business, they aim to continue making it a success, and also ensuring that future goals and plans are being implemented every step of the way. Women are constantly on the go aiming to please not just those that are within the business, but those of which the business is serving. One experience that I have had with a female leader is with Dr.
Piland, who is also my women studies professor. She is an advocate who fights for the equality of women. I believe that she uses both inspirational appeals and consultations. I say this because, our school is a women’s college, and she is trying to reach the mass population by getting them to join her in her fight for women equality. Also, she does not use any bribe tactics to get women to participate. Instead, she gives us women the confidence that we need, in order to stand up to patriarchy and fight peacefully for the rights that we truly deserve.
Her tactics are definitely working, because she represents an agent of change, and with this upcoming election, our society desperately needs all the woman power that it can get. One management intervention that would be of great importance to women’s success in the future is to increase people’s awareness of the psychological drivers towards female leaders, and to work to dispel those perceptions. The reason for my choice is because there are so many people who are oblivious to the fact that women are being discriminated against in the working world. Many people think that it is ok for women to stay below men.
That do not think that it is necessary to rise above due to the norm that society practices. Society makes it ok for women to think that males are always to be above. There needs to be more awareness, in order to prevent future generations from being stuck in this stereotypical cycle, that society has created under the influence of the patriarchy system. The main points that were discussed in this paper shows how women are being undermined by the power held by men. It also elaborates on the obtrusions that they have to dwell in, in order to make it to the top and stay at the top.
In conclusion, it discusses that there needs to be a spreading of awareness in order to eliminate these oppressions that women face in the working force under the leadership men. One insight that was gain from the completion of this assignment, that I will take with me to improve my chances to become a successful leader is; the road ahead might be tough, but with constant determination and courage, it is very reachable. Furthermore, being a women leader proves that one does not have to be a male in order to break down barriers.
