Breaking through : the glass ceiling revisited

Barrett, E. Deanne (2001) Breaking through : the glass ceiling revisited. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Women are very actively involved in education in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. They hold more teaching positions than men do, but significantly fewer administrative positions. This pattern is even more apparent in high schools. The purpose of this study was to research reasons for this phenomenon, specifically to revisit the concept of the glass ceiling (Morrison, White and Van Velsor, 1987), namely the invisible barrier that keeps capable women from attaining the administrative positions to which they aspire. The study examined whether this glass ceiling still exists, and if so, how it manifests itself for female high school vice-principals in Newfoundland. -- In 1999, eight female vice-principals in high schools from across Newfoundland were involved in this phenomenological interview study to establish their perceptions with respect to opportunities and concerns for women in administrative positions in high schools in Newfoundland. Based on the data collected and on available statistics several conclusions were drawn. -- There are factors that influence women's opportunities in high school administration in either negative or positive ways. Each negative factor represents a pane of glass in the glass ceiling and the positive influences tend to offset to some degree some of the negative factors. Some of these originate from sources that are external to women, while others come from within the women themselves. Not all panes of the glass ceiling are imposed upon women from external sources. Several of the layers of glass are created and constructed by women, and in this way women limit their own career opportunities. -- The glass ceiling is very complex and is comprised of multiple panes. As each pane is broken women are in a more advantageous position to advance professionally. It is the internal, female-created panes of the glass ceiling that appear to be the most persistent, the most difficult for women to break through.

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