Women Are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It

by Nancy E Parsons

For nearly four decades, the glass ceiling has become an impenetrable barrier for most aspiring women leaders. Today, only 6.6 % of CEOs of Fortune 500s are women and only 11% of women are top earners at these most profitable companies. It has been four decades since the Pregnancy Act went into effect in 1979 when the doors were wide open for women to rise to the top. Additionally, for more than a decade, women have earned more bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees, yet the glass ceiling stays firm. This book shares exciting research revealing the true reasons the glass ceiling exists and it is not what people think. That is why today’s solutions are not working and women are not rising as they should. The bottom line is that if we don’t change the current trajectory, it will take approximately 400 years to attain just 50% of Fortune 500 CEO positions. That is insane. Added to the glass ceiling dilemma is the increasingly fearful environment for men executives due to the #MeToo movement and Kavanaugh hearings. New objective solutions, in this book, based on win-win solutions without pointing fingers or playing the blame game, and that build trust, are essential. Women Are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It provides breakthrough scientific research and fresh, tangible solutions that will work for women, men, and the organizations they serve to end the glass ceiling within a decade.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2019

Reviews

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Parsons discusses her extensive study in women advancement and the ceiling that hinders progress in her book; Women Are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It. This is an invaluable read for leaders and any woman who want to make advancements in her career. It is helpful to stay ahead of the mood within the workplace and to appraise your own qualities and weaknesses.

I was fascinated by the discovery that although the #MeToo movement was long overdue, it hindered the equality women have been striving desperately for. Nancy Parsons detected that men's attitude changed towards women in the workplace and now there is a decline in men wishing to work with women. Part of me feels there have been women who have abused the #MeToo movement for personal gain, while the real victims suffered. Overall, Women Are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It is very informative and helpful. It makes me evaluate my own attitude in the work place.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book. It looked at the proverbial glass ceiling and what is actually keeping that ceiling in place. What I found really interesting is that the author puts forth the idea that it is actually mainly women themselves who keep that glass ceiling in place. She then follows it up with arguments and facts stemming from her research and experiences. Then, the book takes a look at the #MeToo movement and how it has set women’s equality back and hindered women in the workplace due to male resistance in hiring, meetings, and promotions. I am not completely convinced that women’s thinking and tendency for worrying is at fault, but the author does make a compelling argument for this case. She also gives advice for women who are in leadership positions and others who want to enter the leadership ranks. Advice regarding in how to counter the glass ceiling effects and how we can collectively change it.

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Parson's Women Are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It is a book that is written for every woman who wants to be at her best in all aspects in her life, especially professional aspect. At first I was confused about the title but as I've read the whole book I slowly realized what it is all about. It was all about women empowerment and about encouragement for all women to be stronger, smarter and way better.

I loved the tone of the book in general. It was enthusiastic and very positive-- uplifting in a way. It also teaches women to step up in life, much more become a leader on whatever she pursues. The book, as a whole, was a short read book but it has full of sense. It very well represents the problem in the society and the root of it. In the end it presented a solution and I have really a lot through it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly excellent!! A must read for anyone in a leadership position or aspiring to a leadership position in order to gain insight on varying personalities and how to help them succeed.

[Jenny Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a helpful guide for women in leadership positions and, also for women who are looking to move up into a leadership position. This book lists out the root causes for why there is a glass ceiling for women and what women can do to remove this ceiling. Also, there are 11 risk factors affecting both men and women in leadership positions; however, several of these risk factors seem to hurt women more than men. This book details each risk factor and how men and women with the same risk factor are perceived differently by their direct reports/peers/upper leadership. I agree that these perceptions and biases can help create this glass ceiling for women. I also could relate to several of this risk factors as I, myself, struggle with being a worrier, perfectionist, and a pleaser. I also have worked for leaders that are perfectionists, egotists, and detached. The author of the book provides great information about the CDR 3-Dimensional Assessment Suite that can be provided to leaders to measure their key strengths and development needs in the following: character assessment (your strengths), drivers and rewards (your passions), and risk assessment (weaknesses; areas where you need help). I believe these three CDR assessments would be very helpful for all employees, but especially for those in leadership positions. I think this book was very informative and helpful for all women.

[Rebecca]

Women are great

I think all women should read what’s contained in this book. The author goes through and explains what type of world we are living in where women are not taking the lead and being successful as much as they should. This book has eye opening statistics and opinions from people hey surveyed. I think this book has a lot of helpful tips to break bad habits that we as women tend to think. It’s easy in society to let men take the lead but we are more capable than that. With some help from this book, we can learn to recognize these type of behaviors and not let anyone including ourselves to stop us from achieving great things. Definitely a great read.

[Katherine Hebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read!

In the age of the rise of feminism. this book takes a factual approach as to why women just can’t overcome the last few hurdles to become the top leaders. It was an absolutely fascinating read and I highly recommend it to both men and women. You can’t argue with facts and stats, and the author does a great job of using these to convey her point. Such a good read.