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Negative metaphors can become excuses for inaction.(Essay)
Words have power to harm or to heal. Ask anyone who's been victim to a bully's verbal or written abuse.
Dr. Catherine Morgan is seeking attention to the words used to describe women's leadership experiences. Morgan, the dean of the school of business at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, believes that the overused metaphor of a "glass ceiling" has actually hindered women.
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A glass ceiling implies that "all progress is vertical and there's one barrier at the top." But the reality is that there are many different barriers or hurdles to overcome.
A better metaphor would be a labyrinth or a maze, with many twists and turns. Referencing the book by Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carli, Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders, Morgan believes it's time to redefine the path to the top. She spoke about the authors' work and its implications at the Women in Educational Leadership conference held in Lincoln NE in October.
Metaphors matter
Underlying the image of a glass ceiling is a message that's very powerful but also very negative. "The message is that it's up to you to break it and in doing so, you could get hurt," said Morgan.
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