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      Has the Glass Ceiling Been Broken (or at Least Cracked)?
      Sharpening Your Skills
      Has the Glass Ceiling Been Broken (or at Least Cracked)?
      06 Mar 2019Sharpening Your Skills

      Has the Glass Ceiling Been Broken (or at Least Cracked)?

      by Sean Silverthorne
      06 Mar 2019|by Sean Silverthorne
      Harvard Business School researchers have been at the forefront of studies on gender discrimination for several decades. As International Women's Day 2019 approaches, here is what they've discovered so far.
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      On Friday, we will celebrate International Women's Day 2019, an annual event to promote the advancement of gender equality and gauge our progress across many domains. In business, researchers tell us, progress is happening but is still slow. There are more women on boards than a decade ago, more women CEOs, too. The growth rate of women-owned businesses is three times the amount for all businesses.

      But that's not enough. It still feels that compensation, influence, and opportunity flow more freely to men. Gender sterotypes still wall off women from some top jobs and career choices.

      At Harvard Business School, researchers tackle these issues through its Gender Initiative, which "supports research, education, and knowledge dissemination to accelerate the advancement of women leaders and promote gender equity in business and society." Below are examples of gender-based topics under study.


      A Good Place to Start

      A Company’s Evolving View of Gender Equity
      Looking at the evolution of gender in US society over nearly 20 years, a study traces how one prominent professional-service firm internalized the shifting concerns.


      How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self-Confidence
      Researchers believe gender stereotypes hold women back in the workplace. Katherine Coffman's research adds a new twist: They can even cause women to question their own abilities.

      Sponsorship Programs Could Actually Widen the Gender Gap
      Companies increasingly provide sponsors to help women get ahead. But certain aspects of sponsorship programs can hinder women instead.

      Women Receive Harsher Punishment at Work Than Men
      Women caught in misconduct were 20 percent more likely to be fired and 30 percent less likely to find new employment in the financial services industry, reports new research.

      Why Employers Favor Men
      Why are women discriminated against in hiring decisions? The reason is subtle.

      Simple Ways to Take Gender Bias Out of Your Job Ads
      The book What Works: Gender Equality by Design, discusses how organizations can leverage findings from behavioral science to fight gender bias in the workplace—starting with job listings.

      What Will It Take to Achieve Gender Equality in Leadership?
      James Heskett's readers question the meaning of "gender equality" and ponder ways to give women access to the same management opportunities as men.

      Research Papers

      When Gender Discrimination Is Not About Gender
      Gender discrimination in a typically male workplace is not necessarily driven by misogyny. Rather, employers are less willing to hire applicants associated with a lower performing group—even if that group is defined by a demographic characteristic other than gender.

      Beyond Gender and Negotiation to Gendered Negotiations
      How does gender affect negotiations within organizations or rather how do organizations affect gender relations?

      Explaining the Persistence of Gender Inequality: The Work-Family Narrative as a Social Defense against the 24/7 Work Culture
      Women’s advancement is slowed because of social defenses at the organizational level, along with wider cultural beliefs that are resistant to change.

      Gender Stereotypes in Deliberation and Team Decisions
      Women are recognized less often for their contributions in male-typed domains.

      When Gender Discrimination is Not About Gender
      Gender discrimination in a typically male workplace is not necessarily driven by misogyny.

      Image: DNY59

      What do you think of this research?

      Share your insights below.

      Post A Comment
      In order to be published, comments must be on-topic and civil in tone, with no name calling or personal attacks. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length.
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