What does the glass ceiling phenomenon suggest?

The glass ceiling phenomenon refers to an invisible barrier that prevents women and other marginalized groups from reaching the highest levels of leadership and corporate advancement, despite having the qualifications and competencies needed for those roles. This concept encapsulates the systemic and structural challenges that contribute to a lack of representation of women in upper management positions.

The essence of the glass ceiling is that it highlights the limitations imposed not by an individual's capabilities, but rather by societal norms, biases, and institutional practices that hinder advancement. It suggests that, regardless of qualifications and achievements, women often encounter obstacles that prevent them from moving up the corporate ladder, particularly in senior or executive roles.

In contrast, the other options either downplay the existence of these barriers or suggest that women are actively encouraged into leadership roles, neither of which accurately reflects the complexities of the glass ceiling phenomenon.