Many among us, particularly those working in the corporate sector and in general the well heeled are familiar with the term glass ceiling ...a term that refers to the myriad factors (although invisible to the uninitiated and unsuspecting spectator) that restrain and shackle a woman from acheiving her rightful dues and position at the workplace. Largely till now the alleged perpetrators of the glass ceiling have been men (or at least perceived to be). The shackling factors too have been rather traditionally perceived.
However, in reality the glass ceiling has expanded well beyond its stratjackered boundaries today and and a conscious professional fraternity we need to address the new set of issues that are very clearly starting to rear their ugly heads. For these issues have to be nipped in the bud.
Firstly it Is a gross fallacy that men are restrained at the workplace only by men. Candidly stated women often face stiffer resistance in their journey of career growth from women colleagues. I have often seen and heard about the relatively more accomplished women contending with strategically orchestrated animosity from groups of women colleagues. Says Raina Bhattacharya a psychological counsellor ,"There is a interesting insight that actually explains this. In our patriarchal society when women were largely confined to their homes, had little education and lived in joint family setups they often displayed unspoken but strong undercurrents of competition amongst themselves. A daughter in law trying to outdo her mother in laws cooking skills and a woman trying to look more beautiful than her co -sisters -well these are common fable of Indian households actually even today. However I m definitely not saying that all women are wired this way . Coming back to the point, this inherent desire to be better than other women through sheer comparison isj today gradually but certainly starting to manifest itself in the corporate domain too". While actually there is nothing really wrong or harmful about a little vying and competition among women colleagues it sure gets toxic and unhealthy when it crosses limits and boundaries of decorum. Says Richa Sharna an executive who worked long years in Mumbai and had recently relocated to Guwahati. "I had recently worked with a startup and had the most unpleasant experience of my 12 year old work life. Since I am reasonably good at my work and have a much broader perspective (given my years in Mumbai ) I was somehow singled out from the rest. " Richa goes on to say that in no time about a group of ten women colleagues consistently and strategically had formed almost a lobby against her. " In my initial months in the organization I had not perceived these undercurrents and hence had been friendly with everyone. But even then I was consciously left out of their group activities. Gradually I sensed their acrimony growing and heard bickerings and snide remarks about me. My work and work equations with the colleagues I got along with were sabotaged too."
Raina Bhattacharya says that while it is difficult to pinpoint the precise reasons for such acrimonious lobbying what Richa faced is not very uncommon in smaller Indian cities like Guwahati. "Insecurity and jealousy are largely broad reasons for such behavior. Also in my experience as a counsellor I have seen that in general when a group of average women are exposed to a woman who is superior in terms of skills and life experience there us a tendency among the group to come together. This coming together is actually all about reassuring themselves about their self worth. After all there is strength in numbers when ones individual sense of worth and confidence fails. Alas all this is very futile and unnecessary as each person has their own strengths and weaknesses."
Sadly the reasons and instances of women lobbying against women colleagues are increasing today. Pinky Bose a good looking woman with a high paying job and prestigious work profile shares something similar. "Women are rarely your best friends when you are climbing the corporate ladder. In my case I have been contending with a volley of insuniatuons and unfair speculations regarding my equations with my male colleagues more specifically my boss. Some women colleagues have unfairly concluded that I am having an affair with him. They find it immensely difficult to digest that I simply have the education and expertise that is steering me to the top. I am married with two lovely children and a supportive husband who thankfully knows me well and hence these anguishing insinuations at the professional sphere do not spill on to my personal space," says Pinky.
Well these are but some of the grave undercurrents of the glass ceiling that somehow refuses to shatter despite concentrated efforts by right thinking and well meaning professionals for decades. Good infrastructure by way of clean washrooms, immediate access to a lady doctor in times of medical emergencies and proper security by way of pick ups and drops by office vehicles if the work timings are at odd hours are a must to facilitate women employees and break the glass ceiling.
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