Beware the Sticky Floors and Glass Cliffs

Glass ceilings are a significant barrier, but sticky floors and mid-level bottlenecks present even greater challenges for women's career advancement. These obstacles often stem from biases that hinder women from receiving initial promotions. Additionally, a moral credentialing effect can occur when individuals support a female candidate, leading them to believe they have satisfied diversity criteria, which may reduce their commitment to promoting feminist causes in future decisions. This behavioral shift impacts voters, promotion committees, and boards in their ongoing selection processes, potentially causing them to overlook diversity in subsequent choices. Furthermore, the concept of the glass cliff highlights the precarious positions women may find themselves in once they've managed to break through these barriers.