Abstract

Traditionally, women have not held many leadership positions in the workplace. This is typically due to the existence of gender-based stereotypes. These stereotypes hurt women in both their psyche and in their wallet by limiting their opportunities for advancement into top level executive positions. The glass ceiling, a barrier many women have come to face in Corporate America, has caused many women to accept their fate as “lesser than” when compared to their male colleagues. Very few women have been successful in breaking the glass ceiling. Some modern organizations have taken on the challenge of ridding their culture of these stereotypes, helping to close the gender pay-gap; consequently empowering their female workers. Compared to the number of companies that have yet to adopt newer standards, the initiative seems daunting. There are some companies that recognize the problem and want to change, but lack knowledge of how to successfully modify the unconscious bias that exists in their workplace. For such organizations there are tools that exist to assist in that transformation. Tools such as: performing objective performance evaluations, succession planning processes, continued-education, and employee development workshops. Changing people’s perceptions cannot happen overnight. As more companies recognize the bias in their workplaces and take on the challenge of eradicating stereotypes, women will achieve more success in Corporate America.

Keywords

women, stereotype, gender, diversity, wage, leadership

Document Type

Thesis

Year of Completion

2018

Major

Business Administration

Advisor

Courtney Tricarichi

Academic Department

College of Management

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