Vote totals:
Yes:
0%
No:
0%
Neutral:
0%
DEBATE: DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST?
DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST?
Males still dominate the top positions
Taking a look at the legal profession we can see that the percentage of women in the highest powered jobs is minute. The position of Lord of Appeal in Ordinary holds only 8.33% of women, High Court judges is 10.09% and the position of Recorder is made up of 14% women. If we look at deputy judges the percentage takes a small leap to 27%(1). With figures like these it is hard to argue that the glass ceiling has disintegrated.
(1) http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/keyfacts/statistics/women.htm
DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST?
No female Prime Ministers, or even party leaders, since Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher became the Conservative party leader in 1975 and went on to become the Prime Minister in 1979. But a female in the top positions in government is not a regular occurrence. In fact Maggie is one of only three women to have served under the four Great Offices of State (Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary). Margaret Beckett only held the position of Foreign Secretary for one year from 2006-2007, so she can be seen as little more than a token piece, placed there for statistical value only. If the people’s government cannot deliver equality, how can we say the glass ceiling has gone?
DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST?
Maternity and paternity leave are not yet equal
Employers worry when they hire young/middle aged women. They fear that after hiring a woman, she will only cost the company money by getting pregnant and going on maternity leave. To combat this attitude, maternity and paternity leave should be equal. Currently, paternity leave is a maximum of two consecutive weeks. These two weeks must be taken within 56 days of the child’s birth.(1) This can be contrasted with the long maternity leave that is allowed for. Women are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave from day one of employment. Women are entitled to maternity pay for 39 weeks if they have been working for their employer for 26 weeks. (2)
Father’s also do not have the right to take time off work to attend antenatal classes, this allowance is for pregnant employees only.
(1)http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/Parentalleaveandpay/DG_10029398
(2) http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/what_time_off_work_am_i_entitled
DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST?
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DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST?
Women are getting the most prestigious of jobs now
This only means that the glass has become thinner. Although the debate does say DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST??
So since most men have the higher class jobs the glass still does exist.
The glass ceiling that women once used to be able to look through but not pass is gone. We can see this as women are attaining top jobs. Doctors, barristers, leading scientists, all now contain a significant female percentage. In regards to barristers, 48.9% of those called to the bar during 2005 were women(1). This is almost half, for one of the most prestigious jobs in Britain.
(1) http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=120289&d=122&h=24&f=46
