Assessing the Progress of Women in Corporate America: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Abstract

Overt gender discrimination in the workplace is now less frequent since the passage of the Civil Rights Act; however, subconscious workplace gender biases persist. These subtle biases continue to contribute to gender inequality in the employment context, hindering women's ability to reach the top ranks of corporate leadership and their ability to achieve pay equity. To combat this inequity, in this article, we advance several suggestions. First, we urge states to pass legislation requiring paycheck fairness and urge firms to institute policies of salary transparency. Next, when there is a lack of women in the highest corporate ranks of the company, a presumption of discrimination should replace the current legal framework in the courts for disparate treatment analysis in Title VII cases of gender discrimination. We further suggest that firms would do well to improve mentoring and networking programs for women to help even the playing field and call on companies to offer implicit bias training for men. Finally, we urge firms to improve the environment for women in the workplace by adopting and sincerely promoting family‐friendly policies. Not only would these recommendations be just, they would also likely increase productivity in the corporate world and help resolve the paradox surrounding the paucity of women in top leadership positions.