Rethinking “Breaking The Glass Ceiling”
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I’d like to propose we redefine what it means to “break the glass ceiling.”
The very concept itself is broken. It keeps women focused on a barrier, rather than their potential and the reality of what they bring to the table. It sets women up to believe that in order to be empowered or “make it to the top,” they must act like those who have historically been empowered – men.
As Fortune contributor Roxanne Gay puts it, “We ask women to embody the characteristics we often attribute to men in the workplace—aggression, boldness, forthrightness, risk taking—as if these are the only characteristics that can contribute to professional success.” In doing so, women stifle their God-given strengths—empathy, relationship building, collaboration—strengths, that in today’s globally connected, digital world are desperately needed at top levels of leadership. This needs to change.
I’m not saying we should ignore the fact that the women are still 18% less likely to get promoted than their male counterparts or that women earn 79 cents on the dollar compared to men. The stats are even worse for minority women. There is a true sense in which barriers need to be broken, but we won’t create change by staring at the ceiling. And, most of us don’t want to— we want to earn it. Polished women, especially, are hard workers. They are excellent at their crafts and lead out with integrity among their teams.
So, what does it look like break barriers effectively? Where should we be focused?
First, Let’s Not Forget What Truly Matters.
As daughters of Christ we have the privilege of stepping into a calling and identity that is higher and greater than any company, organization, or man (or woman) can offer to us. We are members of a royal priesthood, adored by the Creator of the Universe, and will one day be welcomed with open arms into His Heavenly Kingdom! Let’s pause before we continue to remember that this is our ultimate hope and joy.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Still, as Christ followers we are called to stand up against injustice while we are here on earth. Jesus clearly valued women and there are many (often overlooked) examples of female leaders through out Scripture. While the Lord values humility and discernment, I don’t think God wants women to settle for being silenced, taken advantage of, or oppressed under systems working against them.
“Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression.” Isaiah 1:17
Then, what does it look like to “break the glass ceiling” as a daughter of Christ? How do we fight for gender equality graciously? Is it possible to prove our value without being prideful? How can we make our voices heard? When is it appropriate to break rank?
A New Definition
True ceiling breakers are not are not focused on the top. Instead they are mindful of who’s behind them. They are servant leaders whose motivation is not a certain salary or title, but a desire for a better path for the women who come after them. They are tireless trailblazers, relentless celebrators of their sisters, and thoughtful communicators.
I believe a true ceiling breaker, the kind that is a catalyst for positive change, can also be described as a room maker, a courage curator, and a perspective shifter.
She is a Room Maker.
She is confident in what she has to offer. Her desire to fulfill her purpose and use her God-given talents are not hindered by the fact that few females have gone there before.
She is determined. She has loads of grit, but is not a ruthless competitor. She is willing to embolden, encourage, and champion other women, even if that means someone else gets “there” first.
Practical Ways To Be A Room Maker:
Invest in a younger woman. Taker her to coffee and share with her what you’ve learned in your career – the good and the bad.
Recommend other females for promotion.
Celebrate when another woman does good work. Treat your female coworkers like sisters, not competition. Speak highly and genuinely about them.
Point out when a female perspective is lacking in certain circles. Ask the question: Why are there not more women around this table, at this meeting, or on this team?
She is a Curator of Courage.
She knows she belongs and is confident of her value, regardless of if there are other females in the room. The secret behind her confidence is a continual refueling of courage. When she doubts herself or questions her value, she looks to Scripture and seeks God. She is able to silence the voice in her head that says “you are not qualified/intelligent/strong enough,” because she knows her identity is in Christ.
When she is fearful to speak up, she reminds herself of the bold female trailblazers who have gone before her. She borrows courage from the bible stories of Mary Magdalene and Deborah and Lydia. She is emboldened by women like Sally Ride, Serena Williams, Malala Yousafzai and so many others who bravely became the first in their field, making a path for other women to follow.
When she is tempted to give up, she asks for help and encouragement from her inner circle. With her community behind her, she can lean in. Confident in her value and skill set, she pursues new opportunities.
“The ability to internalize a leader identity has been shown to be important for projecting confidence and being seen by others as an effective and capable leader,” says Bernice Ledbetter, founding director of the Center for Women in Leadership at Pepperdine University. In other words, if a woman doesn’t think of herself a leader, she probably won’t become one.
Practical Ways to Curate Courage:
Abide with Christ daily and study His Word.
Surround yourself with people who will encourage you, but are also willing to tell you the hard truth.
Strive for excellence. Prove your value in the workplace by earning the promotion, stepping up to new challenges, and doing quality work in a collaborative way.
Learn from female pioneers in history. (Have you ever studied Deborah, the judge and prophetess of Israel? Do you know about Huldah in 2 Kings? Have you ever Googled Henrietta Mears?)
Seek out mentors and sponsors. Meet with older women and learn from their experience.
She is a Perspective Shifter
She speaks with confidence without having to be the loudest voice in the room. She is brave enough to stand up for herself and others in the face of injustice, yet patient enough to re-educate and kindly reveal unconscious biases. Whenever possible, she is a consensus builder. But when necessary, she will boldly step out of line, breaking rank because the hierarchy was not suitable or just in the first place.
In the face of an organizational culture built with barriers for female advancement or a leader with a bias against women, ceiling breakers seek to educate. They strive to illuminate opportunities for growth, rather than to accuse or to combat. They assume the best and forgive, even with its difficult. Still, they are unwilling to overlook discrimination or unfair treatment of their sisters. They refuse to settle.
Practical Ways to Shift Perspectives
Pick your battles. Pray for discernment and wisdom on when to speak up.
Kindly point out inappropriate comments or unconscious biases.
Stand up for other women.
Leave your “poor me” attitude at home. Instead, seek to partner with male coworkers to train them on how better to support and empower women.
Learn to talk in bullet points and communicate objectively, rather than emotionally.
Lead like yourself (which is inherently feminine) rather than conforming to a male stereotype of leadership.
Rather than focusing on the ceiling, I am proposing that we concentrate instead on creating real change but being room makers, courage curators, and perspective shifters. Let’s link arms and make change together, emboldening one another with the truth of Scripture and cheering one another on along the way.