When it comes to gender equality, a lot of progress has been made over the past few decades. However, hard and serious work still needs to be done, including establishing the autonomy of all people over their own bodies. Internationally, a 2021 World Economic Forum report stated that it would take men and women an average of 135.6 years to achieve equality in various areas including political empowerment, economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and wellness. Survival rates (other genders were not included in the study).
To symbolize this statistic, media company VML and women's education and networking platform Luminary have declared May 15 as the first Breaking Glass Ceiling Day. The new annual event is on the 135th day of the year. To mark the occasion, New York’s women will gather at the Glass Ceiling rooftop bar for a social happy hour that, while enclosed by glass, is intended to symbolize the empowerment of women and people from underrepresented communities.
"We need to stand up for personal values and standards and ask hard questions, like, how do we view women as equals and role models for all — not just other women?" VML executive Jennifer DaSilva tells Bustle. “How do we make room for different, even conflicting, definitions of success?”
According to VLM, discussion around breaking the glass ceiling dropped by almost 40% on social media from 2020 to 2022, and positive sentiment dropped by 60%, and this event comes at a perfect time. "With this steep decline, there's obviously a lot of work to be done," da Silva said. “There are still too many systemic barriers that are often invisible and hinder the progress of women and underrepresented communities.”
A virtual panel discussion was held earlier in the day, where women pledged to break their professional and personal glass ceilings. In a conversation moderated by author and journalist Amy Shoenthal, four panelists discussed what people can do today to ensure that the concept of the glass ceiling is viewed as a distant relic by future generations.
Quotations have been edited and condensed for clarity.
How things change, the big picture
Cross-Inclusion at the C-suite
"We do have women at the top, but do we have them at the top throughout? What are the relationships between them? I always talk about the relationships between black women and white women. How do we make sure women of color are there with other women Join the discussion?” — Kaleeta McDade, Chief Experience Design Officer, VML
How do we ensure that women of color are included in discussions with other women?
Start from scratch
"Only the system can destroy the system. The corporate system, was built by men. We need to build our own. Women have been leaving the corporate world in droves, regardless of level, and I think it's because the way it was created wasn't a good fit We. We have to figure out what is our new version - not trying to default to the current structure, but what is our own network? How do we become our own mentors? ” — McDade
Persistence redefines success
“We need to start rewriting the rules of success — what it looks like, how we define it, and how we bring it into the workplace. I’m not going to volunteer anyone, but some of us have to be willing to stay Sacrifice within the existing system and then break it down, shift it and climb to the top. Each of us can define this part, at least for ourselves: How much am I willing to give up in order to make the world we want to create more authentic? What are the sacrifices or trade-offs? It’s a harder pill to swallow, but I think it’s a fundamental part of what we need to do.” — Rupal Patel, two-term CEO and former CIA agent.
How can you create change today?
Practice mindfulness
"When you're angry and you want to vent, or you want to drink a glass of wine, or you're up at 11:45 scrolling through doomscrolling on your phone, can you pause there? Can you take five deep breaths? You Can you see what you’re avoiding? Try to talk it out so you don’t leak it to the world.” — Julie Potash Slavin, DJ and practicing therapist.
pay it forward
"I have a 10-year-old daughter, and I always thought, I could teach her to use tools through modeling. I could teach her to listen to her own experiences and learn how to process her feelings." — Potassium Slavin
It may not apply today, and it may not even apply to the next generation, but you will do it for the next generation.
Be the change you want to see
"It may not apply today and it may not even apply to the next generation, but you can do it for the next generation. You have to stick with it and stay the course. I was on the basketball team in college, ten years ago and It looks very different now. It's a testament to the effort I put in. Just because I won't benefit from the NIL (name, image and likeness trading) or the media coverage that happens today, it doesn't mean it won't be worth it. Do.” — Jackie Caldwell, Content Director, Just Women's Sports
