glass ceiling meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

glass ceiling

noun

UK /ɡlɑːs ˈsiːlɪŋ/ · US /ɡlæs ˈsilɪŋ/

Etymology From glass + ceiling, a metaphor using ceiling to suggest a barrier to upward mobility, and glass to allude to the often unacknowledged or “invisible” nature of this limitation. The term was coined by the American diversity advocate, management consultant, and writer Marilyn Loden (1946–2022), who referred to the “invisible glass ceiling” during a panel discussion about women’s aspirations in 1978.

Idiomatic An unrecognized or unwritten barrier to further progression or promotion, in employment and elsewhere, for a member of a specific demographic group (originally women).

Women have reached a certain point—I call it the glass ceiling. They're in the top of middle management and they're stopping and getting stuck. There isn't enough room for all those women at the top. Some are going into business for themselves. Others are going out and raising families.1984 March 15, Nora Frenkiel, quoting Gay Bryant, “The Up-and-Comers; Bryant Takes Aim at the Settlers-in”, in Adweek: Magazine World 1984 Supplement, New York, N.Y.: A/S/M Communications, →OCLC, page 39, column 2:
A recent Wall Street Journal report describes the invisible barrier at the top as "the glass ceiling" and speculates that it is caused by corporate tradition and prejudice—the same factors that had to be dealt with years ago in order for women to make it beyond the steno pool. […] In the spate of recent articles about glass ceilings faced by women, it's been said that men at the top feel uncomfortable with women of equal or nearly equal power. One high-level vice president quoted her boss as saying, "It was his problem, but he couldn't make serious decisions if a woman was in the room."1986 June 18, Rusty Brown, “The glass ceiling”, in Dan Bolton, editor, Lompoc Record, volume 112, number 60, Lompoc, Calif.: Donrey Media Group, →OCLC, page A4, column 2:

4 more examples

There are fears of hitting a "glass ceiling" beyond which known or suspected gay men and lesbians cannot rise. According to Fortune: / In a 1987 survey by the Wall Street Journal, 66% of major-company CEO's said they would be reluctant to put a homosexual on management committees; while attitudes may have changed since, there's no evidence of a revolution.1991 December 15, Kathyrin E. Diaz, “Telling Fortune: A Media Watch Report”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 22, Boston, Mass.: The Bromfield Street Educational Foundation, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7, column 1:
The glass ceiling is still holding back 6,000 women from the top 33,000 jobs in Britain, according to new research from the Equal Opportunities Commission. Thirty years after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act, women are "woefully under-represented" in the country's boardrooms, politics and courts, it says.2007 January 5, Polly Curtis, “Six thousand women missing from boardrooms, politics and courts”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Dec 2023:
[I]t was the genteel chauvinism of the enlightened elites at Kleiner Perkins that carried with it the sting of betrayal. They promised her [Ellen Pao] a meritocracy and gave her a glass ceiling instead: "It just wasn't fair."2017 September 19, Jennifer Szalai, “The Education of Ellen Pao [review of Pao’s book Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change (2017)]”, in The New York Times Book Review, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Feb 2025:
"Has the glass ceiling shattered?" said Bakari Sellers, a political ally of [Kamala] Harris. "No, but it does have another crack."2021 November 19, Chris Megerian, quoting Bakari Sellers, “Kamala Harris makes history, again, as first woman with presidential power – for 85 minutes”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Aug 2024:

Figuratively, Idiomatic A barrier to progression that is not obvious.

After several spirited assaults, the FT SE's 3200 glass ceiling finally gave way yesterday, allowing the index to close sharply higher after a day of drifting.1994 August 25, Charles Pretzlik, “The Market: Ceiling gives way thanks to Uncle Sam”, in The Daily Telegraph, number 43,288, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 25, column 1:

Derived terms: glass cliff
Coordinate terms: bamboo ceiling, cotton ceiling, gray ceiling, lavender ceiling, marble ceiling, maternal wall, paper ceiling, pink ceiling, rainbow ceiling, silver ceiling