Hilary Clinton described her voters as having inflicted 18,000,000 cracks in the "glass ceiling." The U.S. Department of Labor has an actual definition of "glass ceiling", to-wit:
"those artificial barriers based on attitudinal or organizational bias that prevent qualified individuals from advancing upward in their organization into management-level positions." (Report on the Glass Ceiling Initiative. U. S. Department of Labor, 1991. Available in the Catherwood Library at HD 4903.5 U6 U585.)
Where does Sarah Palin stand vis-a-vis the glass ceiling? Let's take a look, after the jump
Are there "artificial barriers" preventing qualified women from advancing? No reasonable person would deny it. But wait.....we're talking about qualified women, so we'll have to dig a little deeper (or, in keeping with the metaphor, "reach a little higher") to see whether the glass ceiling applies to Gov. Palin.
How about "attitudinal or organizational bias"? Looks like a two-edged sword to me. If the glass ceiling is to be truly breached, it must be done on the basis of competence and competence alone. Here, ironically, the attitudinal and organizational bias of the Republican party has simply avoided the "glass ceiling" by allowing Gov. Palin to take the executive elevator directly to the top floor. Note that I do not minimize her accomplishment in being elected Mayor of Wasilla or Governor of Alaska; she earned both positions, fair and square as far as I know. But remember, there are many ceilings in the high rise we call government.
The fact is that Mrs. Palin was able to skirt (HA!) the glass ceiling for reasons having nothing to do with her qualifications. The GOP was far more interested in her other, gender neutral, attributes. Her physical attractiveness, her personal story, her relative youth, her experiences (albeit limited)are as compelling to the Republican base as those same attributes are to the Democratic base when we apply them to Barack Obama. But of course, there are other Republicans who possess those same attributes. Tim Pawlenty comes to mind, but I am certain that there are rising female stars in the Republican party. They will go no further, their progress blocked by Gov. Palin.
Why, then, has Sarah Palin, of all people, bypassed the glass ceiling? The answer is simple: she IS the glass ceiling. Hers is the level beyond which women cannot pass unless they are more attractive, younger, more ruthless, more willing to lie, more willing to back-stab and better connected than other women similarly situated.
Consider a woman who has toiled as a journalist. Skill, training and experience out the wazoo. Damn good at her job, honest, respected by peers and readers alike. He aspiration is to have a role on the big stage, a network gig that allows her to apply her considerable knowledge of public affairs in a way that educates the audience, elevates the discourse, and brings honor to the profession.
The sad reality is this: Before the ink is dry on the banner headline that reads "OBAMA WINS", Sarah Palin is going to get the job that our hypothetical journalist deserves. Sarah Palin will become the glass ceiling for her, too.
For millions of women there are millions of glass ceilings, and sadly enough, many of them are, themselves, women. The less qualified woman who gets a promotion because she is cuter and flirtier is the glass ceiling for the more qualified woman who is passed over because she is older and less concerned about her wardrobe. And here's the thing: in almost every woman's career, there is a woman who can be identified as her personal glass ceiling. The boss' "niece", the important customer's cute sister in law, the governor's daughter.
There is our mission with regard to Sarah Palin. If you're a woman, and you meet another woman who is impressed with her, just pull out your own personal anecdote about the job you didn't get, or the promotion that you were denied. Odds are, she'll have one, too. And then, give her the clincher:
"The woman they promoted ahead of me reminds me so much of Sarah Palin."