The Glass Ceiling

The glass ceiling refers to an invisible barricade to women's advancement. The term was first coined by Marilyn Loden in 1978 at a panel on female ambition. The metaphor of a glass ceiling is utilized to describe ascending the hierarchy of high-achieving jobs because the barrier is not usually felt until a woman "hits" it.

The phrase is frequently used in politics. In 1984, it was used when Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman nominated as vice-president for a major U.S. party. Having a female president is referred to as the "final frontier of equality."