Glass ceiling

Posted by Stephen Secor on March 04, 2005

I think the term "glass ceiling" was germinated in Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, who wrote about the barrier of class difference which is "not so much like a stone wall as the plate-glass pane of an aquarium; it is so easy to pretend it isn't there, and so impossible to get through it." Even though Orwell didn't use the word "ceiling" he did convey the idea of a glass barrier, which seems as though it is not there, but is quite effective in its purpose.

• Glass ceiling ESC 06/March/05