Women face many obstacles as they climb the career ladder and for many different reasons their wages are comparably lower than men. After movements towards equality in the workplace, many think that sexual discrimination is no longer present. However, many still believe that the glass ceiling has not been shattered and is still a barrier for many women in the workforce. The glass ceiling and wage gap exist for various reasons but, like many other women leaders, women can break the glass and abolish the gap. INTRODUCTION The glass ceiling is defined as the “invisible but impassable barrier that prevents… women from reaching the highest level”. higher rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements.” According to the Department of Labor, the glass ceiling consists of “artificial barriers [that are] based on attitudinal or organizational biases that prevent qualified individuals from advancing in their organization to management-level positions.” Qualified women are continually denied promotion to the highest levels of corporate America and other professions. Once women reach a certain level in their careers, they plateau and the glass ceiling prevents them from advancing further. The term glass ceiling originally appeared in an Adweek interview with Gay Bryant, editor of Family Circle, in 1984. However, she first put the term written down in her book The Working Woman Report: Succeeding in Business in the 80's . Women may be able to reach middle management in their company, but reaching higher levels may seem impossible due to the slow process and extensive competition. This is “partly because companies are structured like pyramids, with many middle managers trying to move up in the few av...... middle of paper ......p/scspi/_media/pdf/ key_issues/gender_research. pdf>.Powell, Jesse. "Marriage is masculinity and cover | Secular patriarchy." Secular patriarchate. Np, 08 August 2013. Web. 05 March 2014.Salmone, Marylynn. "The Legal Status of Women, 1776-1830". The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Np, nd Web. 06 March 2014.Soares, Rachel, Mark Bartkiewicz, and Liz Mulligan-Ferry. “Catalyst Fortune 500 Census of Female Executive Leaders and Highest Earners.” Catalyst. Np, nd Web. March 13, 2014.Soares, Rachel, Mark Bartkiewicz, Liz Mulligan-Ferry, Emily Fendler, and Elijah Wai Chun Kun. “Statistical Overview of Women in the Workplace.” Catalyst. Np, nd Web. March 13, 2014. United States. Cong. Joint Economic Committee. Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress. By Carolyn B. Maloney and Charles E. Schumer. 111th Congregation Cong. Rep. December 16, 2010. March 3. 2014.