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The glass escalator refers to men who work in traditionally female-dominated fields, such as nursing, education, and social work, being promoted faster than their female colleagues.
There is a scene in DoctorG where Ayushmann’s gynaecology classmates celebrate his first delivery despite a series of missteps which gets called out by Shefali Shah who plays the department head. The scene is a classic reminder of the concept of called glass escalator.
Being one of the invisible barriers that women face in their career advancement, glass escalator is one of the least understood concepts. “Glass escalator,” is a term used to describe how men in female-dominated industries often ascend to leadership positions faster than their female colleagues.
Gender inequality in leadership positions is a pervasive issue in India. In a country where women form a miniscule 15% of the workforce, we need to do everything we can to educate ourselves about glass escalators.
By now, we are all aware that most of the famous chefs are men, even though women cook more and have more experience cooking in our households. Our social structures are designed to believe that men bring a unique perspective to the fields and are more valuable than women. It also reinforces gender stereotypes that men should be in leadership positions while women are best suited for supporting roles.
The glass escalator refers to men who work in traditionally female-dominated fields, such as nursing, education, and social work, being promoted faster than their female colleagues. The glass escalator has significant implications for women’s leadership. Women in traditionally female-dominated fields are often overlooked for leadership positions in favour of their male colleagues.
This deprives women of opportunities to advance their careers and perpetuates the gender gap in leadership positions. The glass escalator also reinforces stereotypes that women are not suited for leadership roles, further limiting their chances of advancement. As per the report compiled by Deloitte, as of 2021 women just held 10% of board positions in publicly traded companies in India. This is even though government rule mandates having at least one woman on every board.
“In a glass escalator scenario, the focus is on the men, and their performance is observed positively. Even if many women are performing at the same level or even better, since the focus is on the men, their work gets the credit,” said Neeraja Ganesh, a Bengaluru based mentor and leadership trainer. “The only way out is for the women to build their visibility, work on their personal brand and build a good network of mentors and sponsors.”
To break through the glass escalator, women need to advocate for themselves and actively seek out leadership opportunities. Women should, “Find opportunities to showcase their achievements, however small they are. Use communication tools like storytelling to make it more impactful,” advises Neeraja, adding, “They can also build allies who will advocate for them.”
They should also seek out mentors and sponsors who can offer guidance and support in navigating their careers. Companies also have a critical role to play in creating a level playing field for women. They should prioritize gender diversity in their hiring and promotion practices and invest in leadership development programs for women. Unconscious bias training, independent reviews of performance ratings and promotions, and dipstick surveys from employees should become part of company culture.
To dismantle this barrier, we must work towards breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting gender diversity in leadership positions. Women must also take an active role in advocating for themselves and seeking out leadership opportunities. Companies must prioritize gender diversity in their hiring and promotion practices and invest in leadership development programs for women. Only by working together can we create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for women in India.
Image source: a still from the film Doctor G
I am a journalist from India. I now live in Toronto and have worked as a business reporter for leading newspapers in India. I have tracked telecom, infrastructure, and real estate news developments and have read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Women today don’t want to be in a partnership that complicates their lives further. They need an equal partner with whom they can figure out life as a team, playing by each other’s strengths.
We all are familiar with that one annoying aunty who is more interested in our marital status than in the dessert counter at a wedding. But these aunties have somehow become obsolete now. Now they are replaced by men we have in our lives. Friends, family, and even work colleagues. It’s the men who are worried about why we are not saying yes to one among their clans. What is wrong with us? Aren’t we scared of dying alone? Like them?
A recent interaction with a guy friend of mine turned sour when he lectured me about how I would regret not getting married at the right time. He lectured that every event in our lives needs to be completed within a certain timeframe set by society else we are doomed. I wasn’t angry. I was just disappointed to realize that annoying aunties are rapidly doubling in our society. And they don’t just appear at weddings or family functions anymore. They are everywhere. They are the real pandemic.
Let’s examine this a little closer.
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