Comments on: Glass Ceiling or Timidity?

By: Allena Tapia

Allena Tapia — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:44:00 +0000

Hi Lori- Thank you so kindly for the link. I'm still not sure as to my opinion...still forming I suppose.
I'm hung up by my past in full time cubicle work, and cannot get past that to say "there's not glass ceilings!"

What interesting discussion you have going on here~!

By: Sal

Sal — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:21:00 +0000

Since I have only been writing for a few weeks now, I have not seen any type of ceilings, glass or otherwise, to speak of. All I see is blue sky.

I think a lot of the restrictions we see are self-imposed. The glass ceiling we are talking about, wasn't there a "glass ceiling" during the woman's movement into the workplace? What about the "10 second glass ceiling" on the 100 meter dash? All it takes is someone to take the first step and then get word out and it spreads like wild fire.

The comfortable box we live in is created by ourselves so that we have an excuse if we don't do well. If you want my humble but accurate opinion, we all need to step out of our comfort zone a little more and see what happens. Besides, "We now know 1000 ways not to build a light bulb" - Thomas Edison on the invention of the light bulb.

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:05:00 +0000

I would think that the ability to work virtually as a freelance writer would eliminate some of the glass ceiling senarios when it comes to low pay and fewer writing opportunities.

I don’t care for negotiating my rates – so I don’t. After careful research, what you see is what you get.

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:37:00 +0000

I read this at Allena’s blog as well, and I have to say that I’ve never–not to my knowledge, anyway–experienced any glass ceilings in my writing career. Outside that, of course, is another matter.

I can see how women would more likely take lower rates or be afraid of negotiating. I don’t like negotiating over money either, but it’s like you guys are saying: we have to smash the assumptions!

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:40:00 +0000

Amen to that thought. If you don’t allow it, it won’t happen. Expectations are usually based on reality, so I say we need to do exactly what we’re not expected to do. 🙂

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:58:00 +0000

I bring the axe with me to smash it.

Seriously, though, I think women are expected to settle for lower pay rates, while men are expected to be stronger negotiators, and too many people allow themselves to be boxed in to those roles.