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Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Turkey

The document discusses the concept of the glass ceiling, which refers to invisible barriers that hinder women's career advancement. It notes that while gender stereotypes have decreased compared to the past, women still face problems in this area. The glass ceiling situation is frequently seen in male-dominated sectors in Turkey, though women are trying to increase their presence in these fields.

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damla laçin
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Topics covered

  • leadership roles,
  • glass ceiling,
  • career barriers,
  • Aslı Pasinli,
  • Coca-Cola,
  • entrepreneurship,
  • technology startups,
  • cultural barriers,
  • women's empowerment,
  • successful women
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
31 views3 pages

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Turkey

The document discusses the concept of the glass ceiling, which refers to invisible barriers that hinder women's career advancement. It notes that while gender stereotypes have decreased compared to the past, women still face problems in this area. The glass ceiling situation is frequently seen in male-dominated sectors in Turkey, though women are trying to increase their presence in these fields.

Uploaded by

damla laçin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • leadership roles,
  • glass ceiling,
  • career barriers,
  • Aslı Pasinli,
  • Coca-Cola,
  • entrepreneurship,
  • technology startups,
  • cultural barriers,
  • women's empowerment,
  • successful women

With the development of countries, although a decrease in gender stereotypes is observed

compared to the past, women still continue to have problems in this regard. Sometimes these
are done very clearly, sometimes by drawing invisible borders. The concept of the 'glass
ceiling' is an example of drawing these invisible boundaries. This concept points to a
metaphorical barrier that women face in the promotion process. Although it is more common
in institutions with a male-dominated society, there is nothing concrete supported by company
policies. The concept of glass ceiling was first used by Marilyn Loden during her speech at
the Women's Exposition in 1978. The concept of the glass ceiling was popularized in 1986
when the Wall Street Journal mentioned that invisible boundaries hinder women's career
advancement. In 1991, the US Department of Labor established the Glass Ceiling
Commission to combat this barrier to women. -investopedia-.

The place the concept occupies in Turkey is also quite large; After women became
more involved in business life with the increase in their education level, their exposure to
these hierarchical negativities in business life began. Even today, the number of institutions
where women are in senior management is quite low in Turkey. -neslihan- In our country,
especially in male-dominated sectors such as construction, engineering and finance, the glass
ceiling situation is frequently seen. Although women try to increase their presence in these
areas, they are prevented from coming to senior management. In our country, especially in
male-dominated sectors such as construction, engineering and finance, the glass ceiling
situation is frequently seen. Although women try to increase their presence in these areas, they
are prevented from coming to senior management. Fortunately, there are many things women
can do to reduce this negative effect. Some of those:

 Education and development; Continuously learning new things and developing


new skills by following the needs and developments in the sector will help
women stand out in a competitive business environment.
 Strengthening social relations and business network; The business network
created with women in similar situations enables them to support each other
and to be aware of new opportunities.
 Getting advice from professionals; Getting help from mentors who have more
knowledge and experience about the current situation provides a broader
perspective.
 Persistent perseverance; It is important for women to overcome obstacles by
not giving up easily in the face of problems that may arise in overcoming
invisible borders and maintaining a fighting spirit.
 Creating self-confidence; Increasing their competencies to increase their self-
confidence gives women a stronger stance in the hierarchical order.—yök—

There are many successful women in Turkey who have made the necessary moves and
have overcome the glass ceiling. I would like to briefly touch on the story of Aslı Pasinli, one
of them. Aslı Pasinli is a successful businesswoman in the technology sector. She holds an
MBA degree from the University of Illinois, USA and an Economics degree from Boğaziçi
University. She founded the 'Girişimcilik Fabrikası' in 2005 to support entrepreneurship. This
organization provides consultancy and financial support to technology startups in the country.
Throughout her career, she has struggled to support women entrepreneurs by challenging
gender discrimination. In her own business life, she broke the glass ceiling by fighting against
the male-dominated hierarchical order in areas such as corporate life, entrepreneurship and
civil society, and took charge in the senior management of companies such as Coca-Cola.

In addition to the moves women can take to tackle the glass ceiling, there are things
men can do to support. Some of those;

 To support the efforts for gender equality in the workplace and to always
maintain an egalitarian attitude in the business environment.
 To try to understand and realize what kind of difficulties women have in
business life that men do not experience.
 To act more respectfully and courteously by thinking about how women would
feel if men experienced the obstacles they face in business life and putting
themselves in their shoes.

As women, we should never give up and continue to develop and support the sexist
barriers that we encounter, even though we have to fight even for the respect that men easily
have just because they are men in business and many other areas of life. We are walking on
stronger paths than the women before us, and we must strengthen the paths of the women who
will come after us with our struggle.
References

Beş Kişi (n.d.). Aslı Pasinli: Önce kurumsal hayat, sonra girişimcilik, şimdi sivil toplum.

[Link]

Derin, N. (2020). Dünyadan ve Türkiye’den Örneklerle Cam Tavan Sendromu,

Birey ve Toplum Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 10 (2), 137-154.

[Link]

Investopedia (2022, October 19). The Glass Ceiling: Definition, History, Effects, and

Examples. [Link]

Yoğun Erçen, A. (2008) Kadınların cam tavanı aşma stratejileri: Büyük ölçekli Türk

işletmelerinde bir inceleme (doctoral thesis). Retrieved from YÖK thesis center

(220633).

Common questions

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Aslı Pasinli's experience serves as a model by demonstrating how women's leadership and entrepreneurship can thrive despite gender bias. Her journey illustrates the importance of leveraging education, creating supportive networks, challenging male-dominated norms, and holding senior management positions. By establishing 'Girişimcilik Fabrikası' to support technology startups, she shows how active involvement and leadership can inspire other women to persist and eventually overcome workplace gender barriers .

The Glass Ceiling Commission, established by the US Department of Labor in 1991, contributed to addressing gender inequality by identifying and analyzing barriers to career advancement for women, especially in leadership roles. It provided a formal framework within which discussions on the glass ceiling could occur and recognized it as a significant workplace issue. The Commission's efforts helped raise awareness and prompted organizations to reassess and implement policies that foster equal opportunities for all genders .

Diminishing the 'glass ceiling' in workplaces necessitates a societal shift toward supporting gender equality. Encouraging equal opportunities for all genders, promoting transparent policies in recruitment and promotions, and ensuring men actively support these initiatives are crucial. Men can contribute by understanding women's unique workplace challenges, maintaining respect, and reflecting on the barriers women face. These changes can help normalize women in leadership roles and dismantle societal bias that hinders their career advancement .

Continuous education and skill development empower women to navigate career advancement barriers by equipping them with the competencies needed to stand out and compete in the business environment. This proactive approach helps women adapt to change, meet industry demands, and bolster their confidence, giving them leverage against traditional biases and enhancing their ability to break through organizational hierarchies .

Women can combat the 'glass ceiling' effect by continuously advancing their education and skillsets to stand out in a competitive business environment. By strengthening social relations and creating a supportive business network with other women, they can keep informed of new opportunities. Seeking mentorship from experienced professionals provides insight and guidance, while persistent perseverance helps in overcoming obstacles without giving up. Additionally, building self-confidence by increasing competencies provides a stronger presence within hierarchical structures .

Aslı Pasinli overcame the 'glass ceiling' by excelling in male-dominated fields such as corporate management and entrepreneurship. With degrees from prestigious institutions, she founded 'Girişimcilik Fabrikası' in 2005 to support technological entrepreneurship. Throughout her career, she challenged gender discrimination and advanced to senior management roles in major companies like Coca-Cola, showcasing her ability to break through symbolic barriers while promoting gender equality .

Male colleagues can support gender equality by advocating for egalitarian workplace practices and policies. Understanding and acknowledging the unique challenges faced by women that men typically do not experience enhances empathy, allowing men to act respectfully and supportively. By putting themselves in women's positions regarding workplace obstacles, men can help foster a more inclusive and equitable business environment, effectively challenging the 'glass ceiling' .

The 'glass ceiling' is particularly significant in Turkish sectors like construction, engineering, and finance due to their traditionally male-dominated nature. These industries often have ingrained cultural and systemic biases that make it challenging for women to ascend to leadership positions despite qualifications. Educational advancements have increased women's participation, yet hierarchical barriers remain robust, necessitating specific strategies for women to advance and challenge the status quo .

Building self-confidence is crucial for women combating the 'glass ceiling' because it strengthens their determination to challenge gender biases and assert their capabilities in leadership roles. Confidence enables women to present themselves as credible leaders, pursue opportunities assertively, and maintain resilience when faced with systemic inequalities, all of which are vital in overcoming hierarchical barriers in male-dominated environments .

Male-dominated societal perceptions contribute to the persistence of the 'glass ceiling' in Turkey by reinforcing stereotypes that question women's leadership capabilities and relegating them to supportive roles. These perceptions create a culture that undervalues women's contributions, ensuring that they remain underrepresented in decision-making positions. Such cultural norms translate into institutional practices, restricting women's career progress even in those sectors where women have penetrated the workforce .

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