glass ceiling

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We are MBA students at Illinois State University. We need your assistance in completing a survey regarding WORKING WOMEN'S OPINIONS OF FACTORS HELPING/HINDERING WOMEN'S CHANCES OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT. The survey will help us meet the requirements for our graduate Research Methodology class. Thus, your participation will be critical to the success of our project. The survey items are short and very simple to respond. It should not take you more than 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. Also, your responses will be ANONYMOUS and will be kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

Please complete the survey by NO LATER THAN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10.

Thank you very much for your time and support. Please start with the survey now by clicking on the Continue button below.

Please indicate your degree of agreement/disagreement with each of the following questions. Please check a response for each item.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
I believe women are as capable as men of serving in senior executive positions.Considering just my specific job (not the company I work for), all in all, I am satisfied with my job.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Overall, I am satisfied with my current employer(i.e., the organization I work for.)	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Considering just my specific job (not the company I work for), all in all, I am satisfied with my job.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

If I were completely free to choose, I would prefer to continue working for my current employer.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Women and men are respected equally in my organization.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Sufficient opportunities exist in my organization for women to advance into senior management positions.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

I enjoy working for this organization. 7	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

In my organization, women are primarily encouraged to apply for support roles (such as staff positions, administrative services, etc.) rather than for operational, technical, and general management positions.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

I am disappointed that I ever accepted a job at this organization.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

In my organization, competitiveness/assertiveness in women is viewed as a negative trait.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
Considering just my specific job (not the company I work for), I would not recommend my job to a friend.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

The way my organization operates, a woman could be CEO within the next 10 years.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

I feel a strong sense of loyalty to the organization I work for.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

"Good old boy networks in my organization limit womens opportunities for promotions to senior positions.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

I recommend this organization to others as a good place to work.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

In my organization, there are equal career development opportunities for men and women.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

In my company, the number of women penetrating the hierarchy and achieving senior positions is steadily rising.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

I often think of leaving the organization I currently work for.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

My organizations structure and practices favor male employees.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Considering just my specific job (not the company I work for), in general, I like my job.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
In my organization, anti-discrimination/affirmative-action regulations are viewed as a mandated inconvenience.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

I dont have a strong personal desire to continue working for my current employer.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

In my company, women have to perform better than their male counterparts to be promoted to the same position.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Given the choice, I plan to remain with my current employer for many years.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Considering just my specific job (not the company I work for), I am disappointed I ever accepted this job.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Management of my organization is committed to anti-discrimination practices.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

If I had the choice, I would leave my current employer as soon as I can.	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

Some people say there is an invisible barrier or a GLASS CEILING that hinders or excludes women from advancement to upper management positions. To what extent do you think that such a barrier exists IN TODAY'S AMERICAN BUSINESS WORLD?

To No Extent

To a Little Extent

To a Moderate Extent

To a Great Extent

To a Very Great Extent

To what extent do you feel a glass ceiling exists IN YOUR COMPANY?

To No Extent

To a Little Extent

To a Moderate Extent

To a Great Extent

To a Very Great Extent

Do you believe pay inequality exists between males and females with the same credentials IN YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT?

Yes, a LARGE pay inequality exists IN FAVOR OF FEMALE employees (i.e., females earn more than males).

Yes, a MODERATE pay inequality exists IN FAVOR OF FEMALE employees.

Yes, a SMALL pay inequality exixts IN FAVOR OF FEMALE employees.

No, THERE IS NO PAY INEQUALITY between male and female employees (i.e., both earn the same).

Yes, a SMALL pay inequality exists IN FAVOR OF MALE employees.

Yes, a MODERATE pay inequality exixts IN FAVOR OF MALE emplouyees.

Yes, LARGE pay inequality exixts IN FAVOR OF MALE employees.

In what way (if any) would you say your gender has impacted your chances of receiving (or not receiving) a promotion AT YOUR CURRENT WORKPLACE?

Very Negatively

Negatively

No Impact--Neither Negatively or Positively

Positively

Very Positively

Currently, IN YOUR ORGANIZATION, how helpful would you say each of the following factors are in enhancing womens career advancement?

	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful
Advanced education	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Willingness to take business risks	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Specialized training	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Greater breadth/variety of work experiences	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Extensive operational/line experiences (e.g, in operations, manufacturing, or marketing).	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Extensive staff/support experiences (e.g., in human resources, data processing, or public relations)	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Membership in professional organizations	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Having the right connections	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Having a proven record of accomplishments	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Being a woman	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful
Being a younger woman (rather than an older woman)	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Being a single woman (rather than married)	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Being physically attractive (being good looking)	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Expressing interest in high stake, challenging, and visible assignments	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Being entrepreneurial and taking initiatives	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Balancing work-home demands more effectively	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Spending time (e.g., socializing) in the workplace with superiors and influential individuals	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Socializing with superiors and influential individuals outside of the workplace	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Having a cooperative and non-threatening style	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Retaining femininity but performing against stereotypes	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful
Having a direct and competitive/aggressive style	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Having a senior-level MALE mentor (or sponsor) in the organization	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Having a senior-level FEMALE mentor (or sponsor) in the organization	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Being politically savvy and skillful in building alliances	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Willingness to relocate when required	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Willingness to put your family (or family plans) on the back burner and devoting all your attention to your career	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

During your time AT YOUR CURRENT WORKPLACE, how much time have you taken off work for child bearing, child raising, parental care, or similar family responsibilities?

None

Less than 2 months

2-4 months

5-6 months

7 months to 1 year

More than 1 year

If you have taken time off work for such family responsibilities, to what degree do you feel it has harmed your chances of career advancement?

None whatsever

Slightly

Noticeably (but reversible)

Quite a bit (seriously/hard to correct)

Extremely (lasting/irreparable)

Not Applicable (Did not take any time off)

Do you have (or have had) a MALE mentor in a senior position AT THE PLACE YOU CURRENTLY WORK?

Yes

Do you have (or have had) a FEMALE mentor in a senior position AT THE PLACE YOU CURRENTLY WORK?

Yes

Is there a corporate mentorship program in place AT YOUR ORGANIZATION?

I am not sure

Yes

If your company has a mentorship program, to what degree do you feel women benefit from it?

Almost None

Little

Somewhat

Noticeably

Very Much

In your opinion, GENERALLY, how much of an obstacle/impediment to womens career advancement are each of the following factors? Please use the scale below

	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle
Corporate structures and practices that favor male employees	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Good old boy networks and their grip on powerful/influential positions	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens lack of sufficient self-confidence and timidity	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that women should not be in a position of authority over men	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Lack of equal career development opportunities for women	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that women are not sufficiently competitive and ambitious	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Lack of sufficient number of women role models in highest levels of corporate America	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens lack of enthusiasm in taking on high-stake and challenging assignments	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Having a non-supportive spouse	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Promotion practices that have higher expectations of performance and effort from women, compared to men	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle
Inadequacy of company programs that make it easier for women to balance their work and home responsibilities	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that womens careers are not as important because they are not the primary family provider	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens lack of adequate general management and/or line experience	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Employers lack of genuine commitment to equality of genders and advancement of women	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens lack of political savvy	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Performance appraisal and incentive systems that favor men	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Male domination of senior positions	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Women not being willing to make the sacrifices needed to get and remain in senior positions	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Inhospitable and discouraging corporate cultures that impede womens career progress	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that women are too indecisive, weak, and irrational to be effective leaders	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle
Employers Lack of genuine commitment to enforcement of anti-discrimination and affirmative-action regulations	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Insufficient organizational resources in support of womens causes	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens reluctance/inability to relocate if the job requires it	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Lack of commitment and enthusiasm of top executives in support of womens career development/advancement	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that women may eventually leave the workplace to raise a family	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Lack of sufficient encouragement, and training opportunities, for women to gain experience in line functions (e.g, operations, manufacturing, and marketing).	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens conflicting work and family demands	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that women are less interested in challenging assignments/responsibilities	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Managements tendency NOT to assign women to challenging/high visibility projects.	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Having to take time off to deal with routine family responsibilities (e.g., visiting kids schools, caring for sick kids)	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle
Perceptions that aggressive women are pushy	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that men make better managers than women	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Career interruptions for child bearing, child raising, and similar family responsibilities	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Male managers tendency to be intimidated/threatened by women leaders/superiors	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Male employees discomfort with having female managers/superiors	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Womens lack of ambition, in comparison to men	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Perceptions that women are emotionally/intellectually unsuitable for management positions	Not an Obstacle	Minor Obstacle	Noticeable Obstacle	Significant Obstacle	Huge Obstacle

Approximately what percent of executive positions in your organization are occupied by women? Please write the number in the box.

How many YEARS have you worked for your CURRENT EMPLOYER?

How many TOTAL YEARS of work experience have you had?

Please indicate the industry in which you are currently employed:

In your opinion, HOW HELPFUL IN GENERAL would each of the following organizational practices be in developing and advancing women's careers?

	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful
Development of mentorship programs offered to women	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Focusing special company recruiting practices to seek out qualified women for high-level positions	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Developing "Fast Track" managerial programs that identify and develop high potential women	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Encouraging women to participate in out-of-office social activities	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Creation of career development support groups and networks for women	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Offering programs that help women balance their work and family obligations	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Implementation of onsite childcare	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Offering parental leave programs	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Offering flexi-time(flexible hours) work schedules	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Flexible workweek(flexible days) schedules	Not at All Helpful	Slightfly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful
Having a sufficient number of women role models in the highest levels of the organization	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Strengthening commitment to anti-discrimination and affirmative action guidelines	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Encouraging women and increasing opportunities for them to gain a combination of line and staff experiences	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Encouraging and helping women to broaden their professional experiences(their general management experiences)	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Increasing opportunities for women to spend time and work in corporate headquarters	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Increasing opportunities for women to assist and/or work with influential executives	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Encouraging women and increasing opportunities for them to serve on high visibility assignments/projects	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Establishing managerial accountability for development and advancement of women	Not at All Helpful	Slightly Helpful	Fairly Helpful	Quite Helpful	Greatly Helpful

Please select what age range you are in:

Please indicate your current marital status:

Currently single, with no young children living at home

Currently single, with one or more young children living at home

Currently married, with no young children living at home

Currently married, with one or more young children living at hom

Please select the highest level of formal education you have completed:

Please indicate which of the following best describes your current position:

Please indicate which of the following best describes your organization's size.

100 or fewer employees

101 - 500 employees

501 - 1,000 employees

1,001 - 5,000 employees

5,001 - 10,000 employees

More than 10,000 employees

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