From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishglass ceilingˌglass ˈceiling noun [singular] the attitudes and practices that prevent women or particular groups from getting high-level jobs, even though there are no actual laws or rules to stop them Goodhue shattered the glass ceiling as the first female publisher at Time Inc.
Examples from the Corpus
glass ceiling• We've got to recognise that many women in our organisation, for example, perceive a glass ceiling.• The glass ceiling does not exist because they don't let it.From Longman Business Dictionaryglass ceilingˌglass ˈceiling (also glass wall) noun [countable]HUMAN RESOURCES the attitudes in an organization that prevent women from rising beyond a certain level, despite having the necessary skills and abilitythe glass ceiling keeping women executives out of top corporate jobsWomen aren’t the only victims of glass walls; it’s an issue that concerns men as well. 