Glass Half-Broken: Shattering the Barriers That Still Hold Women Back at Work

by Colleen Ammerman, Boris Groysberg

Why the gender gap persists and how we can close it.

Women have made up roughly half of the college-educated workforce for years, and before the onset of the economic crisis of 2020, the gap between the percentage of women and the percentage of men in the labor force was the lowest on record. But women remain underrepresented in positions of power and status. The gender pay gap, for example, shows little movement, largely because high-paying jobs are the most gender-imbalanced. Even in areas where there are roughly equal numbers of men and women, or where women actually make up the majority, leadership ranks remain male-dominated.

The endurance of these inequalities begs the question: Why haven't we made more progress? A 2020 analysis by a team of sociologists affirms that progress, as measured by rates of women's employment, earnings, and the types of fields and jobs they work in, has either stalled completely or slowed.

With fifty years of sweeping reforms in educational and corporate policy, it's tempting to think that any remaining gender imbalances reflect differences in individual merit or behavior, not organizational barriers. Much of the popular media supports this idea, with countless books and articles offering advice on what women should do to overcome challenges: lean in, speak up, do power poses, stop apologizing, and delegate more.

Ammerman and Groysberg focus instead on the pervasive organizational obstacles and managerial actions that create gender imbalance. Bringing to light the key findings from the latest research in psychology, sociology, and economics, Glass Half-Broken shows that along their entire career path—from entry- to mid- to senior-level positions—women get pushed out of the leadership pipeline and, at each point, for different reasons. Presenting institutional and managerial strategies designed to overcome and mitigate these barriers at each step in the career path, Glass Half-Broken is the authoritative resource that managers and leaders at all levels can use to finally shatter the glass ceiling.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Womens

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Kris Doyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I listened to the book. It sounded like a robot was used to narrate the book which is the primary basis for the low rating.

[Kallen Tu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains a lot of current-day issues that women face in the workforce. I went into the book expecting nothing, and at the end of it, I had a better overall understanding of the journey that many other women face in order to do something so simple as getting respect and recognition for their work.

The personal stories and recollections help you empathize and really think about your own life in comparison.

The authors do a great job of listing out gendered problems and their potential solutions, writing in a very hopeful tone for the future.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This carefully researched and engagingly told account explores the reasons that women still feel stymied at work and what they and the business community can do about it. The strategies described can apply not just to women but to people in other marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, Blacks, Asians, and Native Americans. I was left feeling relieved that the answer wasn't merely "Women just want to do other things" but far more nuanced and complex. Recommended reading for anyone of any persuasion in any industry.

[Núbia Mota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ótimo livro que explora dados e histórico do porquê as mulheres ainda são minoria em cargos de liderança.
Apresentando pesquisas, depoimentos e casos práticos de como empresas e gestores podem trabalhar para promover um ambiente mais diverso. Diversidade traz resultado, é muito além do que uma questão de fazer o que è certo, é sobre também fazer o que dá certo e vai garantir o futuro do seu negócio.

[Heather Poco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful read that gives actionable advice to push back against inequality.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about inequalities and barriers in the workplace faced by many women , and ways we can all work to alleviate and change those inequalities and barriers and level the playing field.

[Kathy Cowie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be reviewed in the July-August issue of Global Business and Organizational Excellence.