From ‘Glass Ceilings’ to ‘Firewalls’— Different Metaphors for Describing Discrimination

Abstract

The glass ceiling metaphor, a framework of the 1980s, constructs discrimination processes in a particular way in particular organizational frameworks. Using a procedure of metaphor evaluation, we examine the glass ceiling metaphor to determine whether it continues to be useful in contemporary social and economic contexts. We analyse the recently introduced firewall metaphor for its usefulness for constructing discriminatory processes in organizations, which remain hidden in the glass ceiling metaphor. Our analysis suggests that both metaphors are useful for constructing diverse aspects of discrimination. In the contemporary context, however, firewalls may have greater utility due to their complexity, fluidity, heterogeneity and possibilities for permeability.

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