INTERCULTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE GLASS CEILING

The "Glass Ceiling" refers to a hidden or unstated barrier to advancement within a corporation (Moshavi, 1998, ENT 2). In her article discussing that issue, Moshavi reported that women and minorities are the fastest-growing group of business owners, and that growth should be attributed to Corporate America.

She cites polls from Catalyst and other women's nonprofits that showed women and minorities were dissatisfied with their corporate jobs. Women cited the "glass ceiling" and lack of challenge twice as often as women whose businesses are more than 20 years old. When women quit their jobs, "top reasons for leaving were, in order: inflexibility; glass-ceiling issues, such as not being valued; unpleasant environment; and lack of challenge. Black women felt far more affected by the glass ceiling and racial discrimination than other groups. Hispanic women had the fewest complaints" (Moshavi, 1998, ENT 2). This paper will analyze those charges by examining two companies within the same industry -- Delta Air Lines and Compagnie Nationale Air France.