ABSTRACT
The protracted rise of women into senior-level positions in many organizations, especially major corporations, has been disconcerting. Even though there have been some gains in women’s political power and employment in managerial and executive positions the question remains: why and how has gender inequality at work in Western countries been so persistent over the past 30 years? Some have argued that there has recently been a “gender stall” (Huffman 2012, 7), a slowing of women moving into management jobs (Cohen et al. 2009). This is despite the fact that in the UK women represent 46.4 percent and men 53.6 percent of those in the labor market, and women earn 57 percent (and men 43 percent) of college first degrees, approximately 50 percent of master’s degrees and 45 percent of doctorates (Catalyst 2012). In the US, women represent 47 percent and men 53 percent of those in the labor market (United States Department of Labor), while women are the majority (59 percent) of the college-educated entry-level workforce (Spar 2012). In addition, women earn 57 percent (and men 43 percent) of all undergraduate and master’s degrees (Institute of Education Sciences) and 50 percent of doctorates ( Jaschik 2010).
