Sharon Begley writes for Newsweek that women’s studies and feminism are going through a mid-life crisis, and are under attack from all sides. This is a good article, exploring the challenges and opposing opinions about these topics.

Full article

Onrec.com has more to say today: “The majority of working mothers are still frustrated by the lack of flexible working positions available, according to the second annual survey from Workingmums.co.uk.

The poll, which surveyed 1,100 mothers, shows that mothers are hungry for work and often have an impressive range of skills and experience to offer employers but feel that there is a distinct lack of opportunities to utilise them.”

Click for full article

Onrec.com from the UK has an interesting article today about the importance of, and resistance by employers too, flexibility in the workplace. Everything here applies to the US so I thought you’d be interested.

“Growing numbers of employees want to work more flexibly in order to achieve a better balance between their jobs and the rest of their lives. But while growing numbers of organisations are trying to accommodate their employees’ requests, they are doing it not out of altruism but for good business reasons. Benefits range from increased motivation, productivity and retention, to better customer service and considerable reductions in both costs and CO2.”

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Not sure if this article truly answers the question posed. A big study at UC Riverside says the size of the brain is more relevant to reading skills, not gender. Read for yourself, does this answer the question for you? Laurie Lucas writes for the Press Enterprise…

Article

Judy Gerstel at TheStar.com writes: ”

As with most issues of diversity in the workplace, it’s going to require a change in the perception of both society at large and couples at home before the situation will change significantly for women.

Meanwhile, employers progressive enough to bypass these social biases and implement flexibility and retention programs (and women’s washrooms with full-length mirrors!) are rewarded.”

I liked this article - simple yet straight-forward, unaccusing, matter-of-fact. Her point…even though women make up nearly half the workforce, it’s the level, pay and positions that indicate the Glass Ceiling still exists.

Full article

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 24 /PRNewswire/ — Recent developments in the
legal profession are prompting law firms and corporate legal departments to
employ increasingly progressive recruiting and talent management
strategies, according to a just-released white paper from Robert Half
Legal, a legal staffing service specializing in attorneys, paralegals and
other highly skilled legal professionals. The paper, Best Practices for
Recruiting, Developing and Retaining Top Legal Talent, is part of the
company’s annual Future Law Office project. 

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    — Lawyers surveyed identified advancement opportunities, flexible work
schedules, career development or training, mentoring or leadership
training, and stock options or other equity bonuses as the most effective
incentives for retaining and motivating their best workers.

    — The recruitment and retention of minority groups remains an ongoing
challenge for many law firms. Some firms are instituting new initiatives
targeted specifically to women and minorities.
click here for full article

Trainingzone.co.uk writes: “With an increasing number of women taking up executive roles in management and leadership, is the glass ceiling becoming nothing more than an outmoded expression? Verity Gough talks to three inspiring women who have made it to the top.”

Also some interesting comments by readers, arguing about the glass ceiling - does it exist or not? One male reader says it is largely self-imposed. Wow as a gender issues expert I certainly disagree with this comment. Yes women can learn skills to help work their way up, and most interactions are a two-way street. Women can take responsibility for learning these skills. That said, by no means will such action eradicate the ceiling. Men, especially white men, cannot relate to the subtle and often not-so-subtle bias that pushes the ceiling down and holds it in place.

In any event, this article discusses relevant views from three women who have made it to the top in the UK, and their opinion about the glass ceiling.

Full article

The business world is wising up to the notion that the career patterns of men and women are not the same.

For the simple biological fact that women bear children — and often take on (sometimes gladly, sometimes grudgingly) a disproportionate share of family responsibility — women can expect far more career interruptions than men; eight compared to two according to one valid study.

And getting back into the workplace can be tough - and scary. These women face many obstacles, and some business schools are doing something about it

See full article from Vancouver Sun

The Wall Street Journal reports:

There have been a number of high-profile articles about well-educated, professional women “opting out” of the workforce after having children. But a new study published in the June issue of the “American Sociological Review” says that this so-called “opting out revolution” has been overblown.

Click here for summary of the study.