glass cliff

English

Etymology

Proposed in 2005, extending the glass ceiling metaphor.

Noun

glass cliff

1. (sociology) A phenomenon where women in leadership roles are likelier than men to achieve such roles during periods of crisis or downturn, when the risk of failure is highest.
   • 2023 September 30, Hannah Murphy, “The wildest job in Silicon Valley”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 18:

     Since her appointment, she [Linda Yaccarino] has been linked with the “glass cliff” theory, put forward in 2005 by researchers at the University of Exeter. The theory posits that women are more likely to be promoted or brought into top jobs at times of a crisis and thus set up for failure.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:glass cliff.

Translations

Translations

• French: falaise de verre (fr) f

See also

• glass ceiling