Ayushmann’s Glass Escalator Moment In DoctorG And Why It Matters To Career Women

There is a scene in DoctorG where Ayushmann’s gynaecology classmates celebrate his first delivery despite a series of missteps which gets called out by Shefali Shah who plays the department head. The scene is a classic reminder of the concept of called glass escalator.

Being one of the invisible barriers that women face in their career advancement, glass escalator is one of the least understood concepts. “Glass escalator,” is a term used to describe how men in female-dominated industries often ascend to leadership positions faster than their female colleagues.

Gender inequality in leadership positions is a pervasive issue in India. In a country where women form a miniscule 15% of the workforce, we need to do everything we can to educate ourselves about glass escalators.

The glass escalator refers to men who work in traditionally female-dominated fields, such as nursing, education, and social work, being promoted faster than their female colleagues. The glass escalator has significant implications for women’s leadership. Women in traditionally female-dominated fields are often overlooked for leadership positions in favour of their male colleagues.

This deprives women of opportunities to advance their careers and perpetuates the gender gap in leadership positions. The glass escalator also reinforces stereotypes that women are not suited for leadership roles, further limiting their chances of advancement. As per the report compiled by Deloitte, as of 2021 women just held 10% of board positions in publicly traded companies in India. This is even though government rule mandates having at least one woman on every board.

“In a glass escalator scenario, the focus is on the men, and their performance is observed positively. Even if many women are performing at the same level or even better, since the focus is on the men, their work gets the credit,” said Neeraja Ganesh, a Bengaluru based mentor and leadership trainer. “The only way out is for the women to build their visibility, work on their personal brand and build a good network of mentors and sponsors.”

Fighting against the glass escalator

To break through the glass escalator, women need to advocate for themselves and actively seek out leadership opportunities. Women should, “Find opportunities to showcase their achievements, however small they are. Use communication tools like storytelling to make it more impactful,” advises Neeraja, adding, “They can also build allies who will advocate for them.”

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They should also seek out mentors and sponsors who can offer guidance and support in navigating their careers. Companies also have a critical role to play in creating a level playing field for women. They should prioritize gender diversity in their hiring and promotion practices and invest in leadership development programs for women. Unconscious bias training, independent reviews of performance ratings and promotions, and dipstick surveys from employees should become part of company culture.

To dismantle this barrier, we must work towards breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting gender diversity in leadership positions. Women must also take an active role in advocating for themselves and seeking out leadership opportunities. Companies must prioritize gender diversity in their hiring and promotion practices and invest in leadership development programs for women. Only by working together can we create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for women in India.

Image source: a still from the film Doctor G

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