Is there gender bias in the workplace? Although the American labor force has become increasingly more diverse, the wage and achievement gaps are still great. In spite of increased numbers in the work world, women hit invisible barriers as they approached the top of the corporate hierarchy. In 1991, Congress created the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission to explore this problem. The “glass ceiling effect” - whereby women are able to rise up the career ladder to a certain position but no further- is probably the result of presumption about women’s abilities and lifestyles. In 1995, research revealed 97% of top managers of the largest American companies are made up of only 3-5% women. The commission went on to say that women“are locked into low-wage, low prestige and dead-end jobs.” Even with college degrees women are likely to receive lower pay than white men with similar educational backgrounds according to the National Committee on Pay Equality, a private coalition that works to end wage discrimination. In March of 2001, the United States government agreed to pay $508 million to 1,100 women who said the U.S. Information Agency turned them down for jobs because of their gender. Ev
need to keep in mind the emerging power of women not only as consumers but as investors, employees, managers and corporate leaders. Leading edge companies who recognize the power of this market are getting ahead. Other bias companies need to keep in mind that women today control 51.3% of the private wealth in the U.S. To secure this wealth a business needs a work force that reflects the diversity of the marketplace. Female representation in the workplace produces positive feedback to the organization. Although studies show people feel most comfortable with those who look and act like themselves, industry will not progress until business people agree to make it their goal to end gender discrimination. Even after decades of debate and change, the nation that was founded on the principles of equality and opportunity still lingers behind when it comes to the treatment of women in the workplace.
Organizations hurt themselves when they discriminate, and, they need to remedy ongoing effects of past discrimination. Business firms must allow males and females to compete for jobs on their own merits without excluding qualified women due solely to their gender. Isn’t a businesses main objective to run a profitable company? It see