Arohi Publications
Glass Ceiling vs Glass Cliff vs Sticky Floor
1. मूल परिभाषाएँ (Core Definitions)
| अवधारणा | परिभाषा | मुख्य बिंदु |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Ceiling | एक अदृश्य अवरोध जो महिलाओं या अल्पसंख्यकों को संगठन के शीर्ष नेतृत्व तक पहुँचने से रोकता है। | “Cannot rise above a certain level.” |
| Sticky Floor | वे सामाजिक-आर्थिक स्थितियाँ जो महिलाओं को निचले या प्रवेश-स्तर की नौकरियों में फँसाए रखती हैं। | “Cannot move upward at all.” |
| Glass Cliff | जब महिलाएँ या अल्पसंख्यक संकट या अस्थिर स्थिति में नेतृत्व पर पहुँचाए जाते हैं ताकि असफल होने पर उन्हें दोष दिया जा सके। | “Given leadership only when chances of failure are high.” |
2. उत्पत्ति और विचारक (Origin & Thinkers)
| Concept | Origin/Thinker | प्रमुख ग्रंथ |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Ceiling | Marilyn Loden (1984) – U.S. Women’s Exposition | U.S. Dept. of Labor Report (1991) |
| Sticky Floor | Feminist Economics – Madeleine Schwartz & Christine Riordan (1990s) | Gender and Labour Markets |
| Glass Cliff | Michelle Ryan & Alexander Haslam (2004, University of Exeter) | British Journal of Management |
3. सैद्धांतिक व्याख्या (Theoretical Understanding)
| Feminist Theory | View |
|---|---|
| Liberal Feminism | Structural reforms can break the glass ceiling through equal opportunity laws. |
| Radical Feminism | Patriarchal culture sustains all three — ceiling, cliff, and floor. |
| Marxist Feminism | Economic dependency and unpaid labour reinforce sticky floors. |
| Post-Modern Feminism | Intersectionality — caste, class, race worsen gender barriers. |
4. भारतीय परिप्रेक्ष्य (Indian Context)
- Glass Ceiling:
- Corporate: <17% women in senior management (Grant Thornton, 2024).
- Civil Services: Only ~14% women IAS officers in top secretarial posts.
- Sticky Floor:
- Informal sector में 90% महिलाएँ निम्न-स्तर के कार्यों में।
- कम वेतन, maternity gaps, skill-training की कमी।
- Glass Cliff:
- Women promoted in crisis (e.g. women leaders brought in during organizational failure).
- Political Example: Women CM candidates in unstable states — symbolic elevation.
5. तुलना सारांश (Tabular Comparison)
| पहलू | Glass Ceiling | Sticky Floor | Glass Cliff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | Invisible barrier at higher level | Traps at entry/lower level | Risky promotion to failure |
| Stage | Mid → Top level | Entry → Mid level | Top level crisis |
| Gender Effect | Limits promotion | Limits mobility | Blames failure |
| Examples | No woman CEO | Women as clerks, teachers | Women made leaders during crises |
| Remedy | Mentorship, quotas | Education, training | Fair performance evaluation |
6. प्रभाव (Impact Analysis)
- Organizational: Low diversity, gender pay gap, low morale.
- Social: Reinforces patriarchy and occupational stereotypes.
- Economic: Under-utilization of half the workforce.
- Political: Symbolic representation, not substantive empowerment.
7. उपाय (Way Forward)
- Gender Sensitization: Organisational culture change.
- Policy Measures: Equal pay, maternity + paternity leave, flexible work hours.
- Leadership Quotas: Women’s reservation, boardroom diversity norms.
- Mentorship & Training: Breaking sticky floors via capacity building.
- Performance-based promotions: Not symbolic crisis appointments.
8. Quotes for Mains / Essay
“The ceiling may be glass, but the walls are concrete.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter
“When women are finally allowed to lead, it’s often off a cliff.” — Michelle Ryan
“Sticky floors and glass ceilings both trap the potential of half of humanity.” — UN Women Report (2021)
9. महत्वपूर्ण पुस्तकें (Books & References)
- Lean In – Sheryl Sandberg
- The Second Sex – Simone de Beauvoir
- Women and Work – Rosabeth Moss Kanter
- Gender and Labour Markets – Madeleine Schwartz
- Glass Cliff: Women and Leadership in Risky Times – Ryan & Haslam
10. MCQs
1. “Glass Cliff” refers to —
A) Invisible barrier to promotion
B) Leadership given in crisis situations
C) Stagnation at lower levels
D) Gender pay gap
→ Answer: B) Leadership given in crisis situations
2. Sticky floor prevents —
A) Entry into jobs
B) Upward mobility from low-level positions
C) Political representation
D) Work-life balance
→ Answer: B) Upward mobility from low-level positions
3. The term “Glass Ceiling” was first used by —
A) Simone de Beauvoir
B) Marilyn Loden
C) Betty Friedan
D) Hillary Clinton
→ Answer: B) Marilyn Loden
4. Which feminist theory explains “Sticky Floor” as economic exploitation?
A) Liberal Feminism
B) Radical Feminism
C) Marxist Feminism
D) Post-modern Feminism
→ Answer: C) Marxist Feminism
5. In India, which constitutional amendment encouraged women’s political leadership at local levels?
A) 42nd
B) 44th
C) 73rd & 74th
D) 86th
→ Answer: C) 73rd & 74th
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