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Column Is there really a glass ceiling for women in the workplace – or is it just for mothers?

The ‘glass ceiling’ is less to do with being a woman and more to do with having to care for small children.

Is there really a glass ceiling for women in the workplace? Or is it for the most part, something experienced by mothers in the workplace?

A controversial question perhaps, but I wonder are there so many employees who have been held back in the workplace simply because of being female. Female employees who have children: yes, for sure. But are there any great numbers of women who don’t have children experiencing gender discrimination?

In my own experience of working in financial services for 15 years, I have never observed gender discrimination of any kind. I work in an office with roughly equal numbers of men and women, all doing the same type of work.

Some earn more than others, based on responsibility, competence and experience. But pay has never been directly or indirectly linked to gender and there would be no motivation on the part of our employer to do otherwise.

I wondered if it was something that existed in the past

Management roles are also filled by a mix of men and women; promotions are almost always from within, and senior roles go to those with most ability, regardless of gender.
During my first ten years in the workforce, I heard about the “glass ceiling” from time to time. I wondered if it was something that existed in the past and was now disappearing, or something that existed in other countries or in other industries. But not, as far as I could see, in financial services in 21st century Ireland.

Then I had kids.

And it all started to look a little different.

I realised that my new circumstances made me less flexible, and therefore less valuable to anyone hiring into more senior roles. I had to leave the office at 5.30 every evening to collect my baby from crèche – I could no longer stay late.

In fact there was usually no need to stay late – the work was manageable during the working day, but many of us did regularly stay a little late, mostly out of habit.
So I left at 5.30, but checked my email on the way home, replying and following up, therefore avoiding a situation whereby anyone could point a finger.

Staying under the radar.

Travelling for work was suddenly more complicated – it meant my husband had to do crèche drop-off and collection, which in turn impacted his work-day. But I managed, mostly by travelling only when truly necessary, and without publicising that I was avoiding some trips.

Staying under the radar.

8am meetings were now a challenge – juggling crèche drop-off, negotiating with my
husband, panicking when early meetings coincided with his work trips…but I always turned up on time, perhaps hiding breathlessness, hiding the fact that it had been a struggle.

Staying under the radar.

Maintaining isn’t progressing

I was keeping it together, working harder than ever before, and maintaining an outward air of calm professionalism – even when I was panicking inside about whether or not the meeting with my boss would go on past 5.30 or if anyone could see the banana handprints on my suit.

I was maintaining, but I don’t know if I was progressing. If a more senior position came up that would require longer hours and more travel, I wouldn’t have gone for it. Is that a glass ceiling? Maybe. It depends on whether you believe long hours should be a pre-requisite for senior positions.

But if it was a glass ceiling, it was because of my new inflexibility since having children – it was because I am a mother, and not because I am a woman. I was making a conscious choice – deciding against going for more senior positions because I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice more family time.

After my second child was born, I worked full-time for a year then finally caved – I nervously asked my boss if I could switch to a four-day week and, happily for me, he agreed. He said “I know what it’s like to have small kids. You just need to stay under the radar for a few years and then come back” Under the radar. And lucky me, to have such an understanding boss.

But progression? Often difficult for someone working a three-day or four-day week.

Employers should recognise the value in flexible working conditions

And I strongly feel that this is short-sighted. I think employers who don’t see the value in facilitating flexible working conditions for parents are missing an opportunity. Employers who put mothers on the ‘mommy-track’ are discriminating, albeit often inadvertently.
Employers who don’t promote mothers are losing the chance to fill senior positions with the most practised multi-taskers out there. Not everyone is looking for progression – many of us are happy to stay under the radar for now, but for those who are, the glass ceiling is a bitter pill.

The mommy-track or the glass ceiling – whichever one we call it – it isn’t fair, and certainly not if applied universally, regardless of the ability of individual employees who happen to be mothers.

I’m pretty sure now that the glass ceiling is linked largely to the state of being a mother and not down to being a woman. Which doesn’t help me right now. But maybe if we can keep moving in the right direction, it will help my daughters.

Andrea Mara has three small kids, one tall husband and one office job. She writes at OfficeMum.ie about being a parent, being a mother working outside the home, being a woman in the workplace. She’s just trying to keep her balance. Follow her tweets@office_mum or on Facebook.

Follow Opinion & Insight on Twitter: @TJ_Opinions

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    Mute Paddy Flynn
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    May 15th 2020, 7:26 PM

    No D4 accent yet, stay strong!

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    May 15th 2020, 7:57 PM

    @Paddy Flynn: Roight on !

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    Mute Conor Nolan
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    May 15th 2020, 8:10 PM

    @Paddy Flynn: Or Folksrowk with it mony roindabites

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    May 15th 2020, 11:22 PM

    @Paddy Flynn: Dalkey is 26km from D4. Not to split hairs or anything.

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    May 16th 2020, 6:59 AM

    @Paddy Flynn: that’s cos it’s not D4, it’s Co. Dublin!

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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    May 16th 2020, 6:55 PM

    @Conor Nolan: reverse classism – fantastic. Everyone should be like you.

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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    May 15th 2020, 7:32 PM

    Can we just keep him?

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    Mute Trish O'Leary-Dunne
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    May 15th 2020, 8:35 PM

    @Seán Ó Briain: yeah.swap him for bono!

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    Mute Anne
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    May 15th 2020, 10:16 PM

    @Trish O’Leary-Dunne: I’m happy to have both.

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    Mute Dermot Quinn
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    May 15th 2020, 7:54 PM

    Fair play to him. He always comes across as being fairly sound. He stuck miles from home and knows he’s in a privileged position, so hes just rolling with it.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    May 15th 2020, 7:36 PM

    Ah hes a class act

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    Mute tuco
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    May 15th 2020, 7:40 PM

    He can grow spuds and get home from Mars by himself.his no chance in getting out of dublin with a supervalu bag.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    May 15th 2020, 7:53 PM

    @tuco: that’s very good on the ball

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    May 15th 2020, 8:07 PM

    @tuco: no he didn’t!!! Jessica Chastain had to jump out of the space ship with a rocket pack on her back to catch him while they flew past.

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    Mute Stephen O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2020, 9:38 AM

    @tuco: hats off, actual LOL at that.

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 7:29 PM

    Ah isn’t he only a great guy all the same..

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    May 15th 2020, 9:30 PM

    I remember meeting Matt Damon , Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg during the making of Saving Private Ryan near Taghmon Co Wexford in 1997 where some scenes were filmed. Filming was mostly in Curracloe and took two months. Matt Damon played the part of Private Ryan.They were all very friendly and allowed us to take photos with them.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    May 15th 2020, 8:18 PM

    Honorary Irish passport…

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    Mute kevin mc cormack
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    May 15th 2020, 8:27 PM

    Fair play to him he’s making an effort and well done class of 2020 every we’re

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 7:30 PM

    Ah isn’t he only marvellous all the same..

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    Mute Jen Gordon
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    May 15th 2020, 8:55 PM

    @Sean Dermody: we got it the first time … still looking for attention ?

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 9:14 PM

    @Jen Gordon: Really sorry Mammy, thought I didn’t post the first one so I did it again. How many lines are you going to give me. I must never seek attention…

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 9:15 PM

    @Jen Gordon: Doesn’t let you delete posts which is strange

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    May 16th 2020, 7:02 AM

    @Sean Dermody: I think you can hide posts?

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 15th 2020, 8:57 PM

    Surely he’s calling himself Mattie by now, no?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    May 16th 2020, 6:26 AM

    @Johnny 5: or Damo

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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    May 15th 2020, 9:59 PM

    Fair play to actor matt damon

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    May 15th 2020, 8:58 PM

    Matt for President.get rid of the hobbit.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    May 15th 2020, 10:15 PM

    @Stan Kowalskis: Well he’s a lovely guy no doubt about it, but he thinks that Leo is our president & he’s gone back to being a doctor on the “ front line “ . You have to wonder where he gets his info from!!

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    May 15th 2020, 11:49 PM

    Thinking about schoolgirls the dirty fecker

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    Mute Type17
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    May 16th 2020, 8:46 AM

    @SkepticalHippoEyes: He’s only wishing them well, it’s you who brought up (your own?) dodgy thoughts in relation to schoolgirls….

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    Mute Maurice Dodd
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    May 16th 2020, 12:05 AM

    Totes awks why he’s still here?
    Kinda why not fukd off home loike?

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    May 16th 2020, 5:28 AM

    @Maurice Dodd: stop being a knob, they obviously can’t

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    Mute Neil Reilly
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    May 16th 2020, 4:08 PM

    @Atlas’ burden: whoosh!

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