What is the Glass Ceiling Within?
This is my first blog and post. I wanted to create a blog to compliment by website http://www.ChangeWrks.net which I am currently restructuring. I also wanted a place that I could express my ideas about women's issues and empowerment other than through my newsletter or my website. I also thought it would be fun to get into the blogging world! I decided my first article should help explain my concept of The Glass Ceiling Within.
The best way to explain the glass ceiling within is to demonstrate it. Consider this internal dialog.
A woman sits behind a desk and sees her boss sitting in his office. She has a plan. It is something she has been thinking about for a long time. She goes through the reasons in her mind why she needs an increase in salary. Her divorce is final and her spousal support will be running out soon.
The neighborhood she lives in is no longer safe for her teenage children and she dreams of owning her own home. The children will be going to college in a few years and the child support payments will end. She doesn't make enough to pay for college expenses. There are bills to be paid and she could use a new pair of shoes. She wonders if she is being selfish for wanting nice things,
She has not managed to save for her retirement in two years because of all the unexpected expenses. Who will take care of her in her old age? She envisions herself as a bag lady pushing a shopping cart. She wonders if she will ever have choices in her life or just live pay check to pay check. She closes her eyes and rehearses what she will say. Then a thought comes into her mind. "You know he did mention in your last review that it took you too long to put together your presentations. What makes you think he will give you a raise? She looks over at her boss again feeling a surge of anxiety. There were a few other items he mentioned regarding her job performance but she could not recall what they were. He said some good things too but she couldn't recall those either.
Her feelings of anxiety are turning to panic. She knew she was good at her job. But has she fully corrected her deficits? She looks at her boss and decides it is not a good time to ask. Maybe she should wait until her next performance review. She starts to feel her tense muscles relaxing. She also recalls that his wife had surgery yesterday, and he didn't need to deal with her problems right now. He has always been good to her. She turns her back toward her computer screen and thinks, "The glass ceiling out in the world is nothing like the one in my head. It is as thick as lead"
The Glass Ceiling Within-
"It's me who makes the monsters.
It's me who beats me up"- Paula Cole
The above vignette demonstrates the glass ceiling within. You can see from her internal dialog that she gives in to all of her self imposed limitations such as fear, self doubt and her willingness to put other needs ahead of her own.
I use the image of the glass ceiling to describe this inner process because it is a familiar concept within our culture. It is a powerful image that helps to explain those internal barriers that prevent women from succeeding in their lives. I will be adding articles periodically that will support the lives of women and to assist them in shattering their own glass ceilings.
The best way to explain the glass ceiling within is to demonstrate it. Consider this internal dialog.
A woman sits behind a desk and sees her boss sitting in his office. She has a plan. It is something she has been thinking about for a long time. She goes through the reasons in her mind why she needs an increase in salary. Her divorce is final and her spousal support will be running out soon.
The neighborhood she lives in is no longer safe for her teenage children and she dreams of owning her own home. The children will be going to college in a few years and the child support payments will end. She doesn't make enough to pay for college expenses. There are bills to be paid and she could use a new pair of shoes. She wonders if she is being selfish for wanting nice things,
She has not managed to save for her retirement in two years because of all the unexpected expenses. Who will take care of her in her old age? She envisions herself as a bag lady pushing a shopping cart. She wonders if she will ever have choices in her life or just live pay check to pay check. She closes her eyes and rehearses what she will say. Then a thought comes into her mind. "You know he did mention in your last review that it took you too long to put together your presentations. What makes you think he will give you a raise? She looks over at her boss again feeling a surge of anxiety. There were a few other items he mentioned regarding her job performance but she could not recall what they were. He said some good things too but she couldn't recall those either.
Her feelings of anxiety are turning to panic. She knew she was good at her job. But has she fully corrected her deficits? She looks at her boss and decides it is not a good time to ask. Maybe she should wait until her next performance review. She starts to feel her tense muscles relaxing. She also recalls that his wife had surgery yesterday, and he didn't need to deal with her problems right now. He has always been good to her. She turns her back toward her computer screen and thinks, "The glass ceiling out in the world is nothing like the one in my head. It is as thick as lead"
The Glass Ceiling Within-
"It's me who makes the monsters.
It's me who beats me up"- Paula Cole
The above vignette demonstrates the glass ceiling within. You can see from her internal dialog that she gives in to all of her self imposed limitations such as fear, self doubt and her willingness to put other needs ahead of her own.
I use the image of the glass ceiling to describe this inner process because it is a familiar concept within our culture. It is a powerful image that helps to explain those internal barriers that prevent women from succeeding in their lives. I will be adding articles periodically that will support the lives of women and to assist them in shattering their own glass ceilings.
posted by Maureen Fannin | 5:25 PM
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