Nuances of the Glass
Ceiling
26 October 2007 Seminar
Prof. Kaisa Kauppinen
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Women's Empowerment: Measuring the
Global Gender Gap
•
Economic participation and opportunity – outcomes on salaries, participation levels and access
to high-skilled employment
•
Educational attainment – outcomes on access to basic and higher level education
•
Political empowerment – outcomes on representation in decision-making structures
•
Health and survival – outcomes on life expectancy and sex ratio
Gender Gap Index 2006
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Iceland
Germany
Philippines
New Zealand
Denmark
UK
Ireland
The Global Gender Gap Report 2006, World Economic Forum, 2006
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
2
Glass ceiling
• "Glass ceiling" describes
vertical segregation
• "Glass" implies invisible
practices and barriers
• "Ceiling" refers to the
fact that the
advancement is being
blocked
• The result is mandomination in the upper
bodies of decisionmaking
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
3
The glass ceiling in the organisational pyramid
Glass ceiling
Women
Men
Support staff
(majority women)
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
4
Some statistics from the EU
• Share of those aged 25-59 having graduated from tertiary
education
– men 23,7 %, women 24,3 % (Finland 41,8%)
• Full professors or equivalent (Grade A)
− women 15% (Finland 23%)
• Managers (classified in ISCO 12 and 13)
− women 30% (Finland 37%)
• Members of the highest desicion-making bodies in top 50 publicly
quoted companies
– women 10% (Finland 19%)
• Members of single/lower houses of national parliaments
− women 25% (Finland 42%)
Various sources e.g.: Commission of the European Communities, DG, EMPL 2006
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
5
Profile of women managers
High work commitment
"I get much satisfaction from my work"
women 49%
men 39%
"I feel daily enthusiastic about my work"
women 56%
men 44%
"I feel self confident and energetic about my work"
women 49%
men 43%
"I'm often interrupted at my work"
women 71%
men 65%
"I neglect my family at least sometimes because of my work"
women 73%
men 69%
Work and health at work, 2006
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
6
Women managers - a success factor?
• Both women and men but particularly
men find positive elements about their
female boss
– fair and just in their daily work
– create an interactive, participant and
supportive atmosphere
• Only 11 % of employed men have a
female boss: female boss is an
exception for men
• New challenges
– organizations have flattened
– less hierarchical structures
– team work has become a norm
• Competition is intensifying
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
7
The Nordic women - leaders in gender
equality?
Finland
• The first female parliament
members 1907
• In 2007, a new world
record in the number of
women in government, with
12 women cabinet members
• In 2006, in the parliament
42 % women (Sweden
47%)
• Female president
– Ms. Tarja Halonen
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
8
Gender Equality Barometer 2004
•
Your opinion of the current situation in which Finland has a
woman president. How significant do you consider this?
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
9
Future trends:
There will not be a rose garden
• Heightened competition
between and within the
gender groups
• Polarization and traditional
gender roles
• Some good examples of
breaking through the glass
ceiling
– in politics, civil society,
private business?
• Through public roles women
gain more visibility and power
• Positive identification models
for younger women
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
10
Thank you!
Danke schön!
Kiitos!
FIOH/Kaisa Kauppinen/2007
11