glass ceiling
/ɡlæs ˈsiːlɪŋ/
Very CommonAn invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising above a certain level in a company or industry.
Still widely used but increasingly paired with critiques that mainstream feminism centers it on white women, leaving out women of color who face additional barriers like the bamboo ceiling.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | she's been at this company 12 years, more qualified than every director above her, and keeps getting skipped. the glass ceiling is not subtle | A clear pattern of being passed over despite superior qualifications signals a structural barrier. | linkedin, 2024 |
| 02 | breaking the glass ceiling is cool but who's breaking it for women of color specifically | Progress for some women doesn't automatically benefit all women, particularly those facing compounded barriers. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | the glass ceiling in tech is so real. 30% of engineers, 8% of VPs. the numbers tell the story | The gap between representation at lower levels and leadership shows a structural barrier. | linkedin, 2024 |
| 04 | my dad keeps saying just work harder. bro. i'm working twice as hard as the guy they promoted. this is a glass ceiling situation | Extra effort doesn't overcome a structural barrier the way it would in a meritocracy. | tiktok, 2023 |
Use it when
- A qualified woman keeps getting passed over for executive roles for less qualified men.
- Discussing systemic patterns that limit career advancement for marginalized groups.
- Describing a structural barrier in an industry or company rather than one individual's bias.
Do not use it when
- You mean one specific person discriminated against you.Use “discrimination” instead.
- You mean the specific barrier faced by Asian professionals.Use “bamboo-ceiling” instead.
Glass ceiling vs bamboo ceiling
glass ceiling
Glass ceiling is the broader barrier to advancement for women and minorities generally.
bamboo-ceiling
Bamboo ceiling names the specific version of this barrier faced by Asian professionals.
Origin and context
First used in a 1978 Wall Street Journal article by Marilyn Loden and popularized through 1980s corporate feminist literature. Entered mainstream use following a 1991 U.S. Department of Labor report on barriers to women in management.
- First seen
- 1978
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/glass-ceiling