INDIAN CORPORATE WOMEN AND THE GENDER GLASS CEILING

- SHASHANK JOGANI, 28

INDEX
Sr. No.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

TOPIC
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GENDER GLASS CEILING EKTA KAPOOR KIRAN MAZUMDAR SHAW SHAHNAZ HUSAIN SIMONE TATA CHANDA KOCHHAR CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY

PAGE NO.
3 4 6 8 10 11 13 14 15

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have taken a lot of efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals and others. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to H.R College and the teaching faculty for their guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project and also for their support in completing the project. I would like to express our gratitude towards my parents, fellow friends and the teacher Ms. Meena Desai for their kind co-operation and encouragement which helped me in completion of this project. My thanks and appreciations also goes to all those who have in some ways helped me in developing the project and people who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

GENDER GLASS CEILING

The term glass ceiling refers to "the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements." Initially, the metaphor applied to barriers in the careers of women but was quickly extended to refer to obstacles hindering the advancement of minority men, as well as women. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_ceiling) The general-case glass ceiling hypothesis states that not only is it more difficult for women than for men to be promoted up levels of authority hierarchies within workplaces but also that the obstacles women face relative to men become greater as they move up the hierarchy. Genderbased discrimination in promotions is not simply present across levels of hierarchy but is more intense at higher levels. Empirically, this implies that the relative rates of women being promoted to higher levels compared to men should decline with the level of the hierarchy. The glass ceiling is one of the most compelling metaphors for analyzing inequalities between men and women in the workplace. The expression has been used widely in the popular media as well as in official government reports and academic Publications. (Canberra Bulletin of Public Administration 1994; Catalyst 1990; Garland 1991; Scandura 1992; State of Wisconsin Task Force on the Glass Ceiling Initiative 1993; U.S. Department of Labor 1991). The image suggests that although it may nowbe the case thatwomen are able to get through the front door of managerial hierarchies, at some point they hit an invisible barrier that blocks any further upward movement. As one of the early writers who used the metaphor commented, the glass ceiling is a transparent barrier that kept women

from rising above a certain level in corporations. It applies to women as a group who are kept from advancing higher because they are women (Morrison et al. 1987, 13). In India also Gender Glass Barrier has being taking place . however over the past years , Indian women have climbed the Corporate ladder and are at peak positions . Some of them are:

EKTA KAPOOR
Ekta Kapoor, one of the most renowned Bollywood producers, has carved out a special niche for herself in Indian television and Cinema. Ekta Kapoor was born on 7th June in the year 1975. She is the creative head of the famous television production Balaji Telefilms. Her father is famous Indian actor Jeetendra. She is the sister of actor Tusshar Kapoor and sister of television and film producer Sharan Kapoor. Thus, she comes from an absolute flourished family background of Indian film industry. Ekta Kapoor is considered to be one of the most vibrant and innovative businessperson of India. She is rightly called the "ruling queen of Indian television industry". The serials made by her production house Balaji Telefilms are smashing hits in all across India. These daily soaps produced by Ekta Kapoor dominate all the major television shows in various channels in India. Her serials have not only caught the imagination of the crowds but also their heart. Ekta Kapoor has not only produced but she co-produced a number of soaps, opus, television series and movies with co-operations with her mother Shobha Kapoor. Ekta Kapoor not only produced a number of serials, but also produced five Bollywood films. This includes films like 'Kyaa Kool Hai Hum', which casts her brother Tusshar. After this film, she co-produced another film named "Shootout At Lokhandwala" with the White Feather Films. Ekta Kapoor won the "Hall of Fame award" at the 6th Indian Telly Awards in 2006 due to her immense contribution to the television industry of India. http://sitagita.com/bollywood/producers/ekta.html

she stands like a colossus in the television entertainment segment and within a very short span, http://www.slideshare.net/kitturashmikittu/presentation-on-ekta-kapoor In the male dominated television industry of India, Ekta Kapoor has broken all shackles and risen to be a true visionary giving Indian television an altogether new direction and dawning a new era upon the Indian television industry.

KIRAN MAZUMDAR SHAW

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is an entrepreneur who has tasted success in a field traditionally not associated with women. A Postgraduate in Malting and Brewing from Ballarat College, Melbourne University, Australia she followed her father's footsteps into the masculine domain of brewing and was the first Expert Brew Master of India. Not one to rest on her laurels, Kiran explored the new field of biotechnology and set up Biocon India to work with enzymes. After training from the parent company in Ireland, she set up her Rs.75 crore manufacturing unit in Bangalore, India. "My career was originally in brewing. The science of fermentation accidentally kindled my interest in enzyme technology. I began with two products vital to the brewing industry. This kindled an interest in other aspects of biotechnology and motivated me to establish this business," says Kiran. Kiran is a multifaceted woman- she is a member of the Board of Trustees of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad, Chairman of All India Art Exhibition, Member CII, Member Advisory Committee and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce . 'I have never had to compromise or set aside my principles whether it was dealing with government, banks or international organisations. I've never stooped to corruption as I have handled matters directly with the concerned officials," says Kiran as she describes her business ethics. http://sitagita.com/working-women/women-achievers/kiran-mazumdarshaw-in-the-musculine-domain-of-brewing.html Equal opportunity to all, hard work and a driving force to achieve dreams and goals combined with a sense of commitment to society mark her as an

extraordinary woman. Combining technology and a woman's sensitivity, she is a role model for many women and certainly one of the very few Indian businesswomen to have defied the gender glass ceiling issue.

SHAHNAZ HUSAIN
Born into a conservative family, Shahnaz had to comply with existing traditions and was married at the tender age of 15, and became a mother by the time she was 16. She trained for ten years in cosmetic therapy and cosmetic chemistry, at leading institutions of the West, like Helena Rubinstein, Swarzkopf, Christine Valmy, Lancome and Lean of Copenhagen. Adopting the principle of "Care and Cure," she set up her own herbal clinic, at her residence, with very little capital investment (less than US$1000), formulating products for skin, hair and body care, based on the Ayurvedic system and devising clinical treatments for specific problems. Her formulations and treatments have become breakthroughs in natural beauty care.

In fact, Shahnaz was the first Asian to enter Galeries Lafayette in Paris in herbal care and the first Asian to be featured in the 18-foot shop window of the famous Paris store. Hers is the first Indian herbal cosmetic company to have featured in Harods and Selfridges. Shahnaz is also the pioneer of vocational training in beauty in India. More than 25 years ago, when only apprenticeship training was available, Shahnaz started her beauty institute, Woman's World International, to provide comprehensive training in beauty. Today, students come from all over the world to acquire training in Ayurvedic treatments and receive the coveted Shahnaz Husain Diploma In 1993, she started Men's World International, to cater to the demand for trained personnel in Men's Salons. She recently became the first Indian to open a beauty training institute in London. Shahnaz translated her spiritual values into reality by opening Shamute, a free beauty training institute for the speech and hearing impaired. http://www.ibscdc.org/executive-interviews/Shahnaz_Hussain.html A woman who grew up in a conservative Indian family to change the faces of women all over India and the world. Indeed a woman who has challenged the traditions and risen above the gender glass ceiling.

SIMONE TATA
Simone Tata, currently the Chairperson of the Trent Limited, is an Indian businesswoman. French by birth and educated in Switzerland, she came to India in 1955, and joined Lakm as Managing Director in 1961, rising to become its Chairperson in 1982. The small subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills went on to become one of the leading cosmetic companies of India. As the Chairperson of Lakm, she was referred in the Indian media as the Cosmetic Czarina of India. She was appointed to the board of Tata Industries in 1989. Eyeing growth in the retails sector, in 1996 Tata sold off Lakm to Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), and created Trent from the money it made through the sale. All shareholders of Lakm were given, equivalent share in Trent. The Westside brand and stores belongs to Trent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Tata She was recently honoured by the Indore Management Association with its 'lifetime achievement award for 2005. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/2351326.cms

Mrs. Simone Tata, chairman of Westside, was awarded the Visionary of the Year at the recently held Images Fashion Awards. She has worked out an uncomplicated equation ensure the success of Westside, the chain of lifestyle stores the company set up in 1998 http://www.tata.com/company/releases/inside.aspx?artid=/tqGwSxOpv8=. Glass ceilings and male-dominated corporate enclaves could not stop Trent chairperson Simone N Tata from making a distinct mark on the Indian business landscape. Her pioneering contribution to the cosmetic business in India is reflected in the enduring appeal of Lakme that changed the face of Indian fashion and cosmetics forever. Lakme is no longer in her care, but Simone Tata continues to display her innovative brand of leadership with Trent, the company that owns and operates the highly successful Westside

chain of lifestyle stores and proves to be a source of inspiration for all those women who 1 day aspire to be world famous entrepreneurs.

CHANDA KOCCHAR
Chanda Kochhar (born November 17, 1961) is currently the Managing Director (MD) of ICICI Bank and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). ICICI Bank is India's largest private bank and overall second largest bank in the country. She also heads the Corporate Centre of ICICI Bank. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanda_Kochhar ICICI Bank had named Chanda Kochhar as the successor of K V Kamath to the post of CEO and Managing Director; Born in Jaipur, she was instrumental in setting up and scaling up the retail business for ICICI bank. http://www.ibscdc.org/Case_Studies/HRM/HRM0060.html Under Kochhar's leadership, ICICI Bank won the Best Retail Bank in India award in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and Excellence in Retail Banking Award in 2002; both awards were given by The Asian Banker. Kochhar has also consistently figured in Fortune's list of "Most Powerful Women in Business" since 2005. In 2009, she debuted at number 20 in the Forbes"World's 100 Most Powerful Women list",[14] and climbed to the 10th spot in 2010.[15] Kochhar is honoured with Padma Bhushan Award, the third highest civilian honour by the Government of India for the year 2010 for her services to banking sector.[18] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanda_Kochhar The male-dominated world of Indian financial institutions, are women at the helm still a rarity? At the dawn of the new millennium, India celebrates the remarkable progress of women in business. Mrs. Chanda Kochhar is the finest example of this. She left behind all male counterparts to become the CEO of ICICI and is giving the ICICI name a new status altogether making it reach unforeseen heights.

CONCLUSION
The glass ceiling continues to exist although there are no explicit obstacles keeping women and minorities from acquiring advanced job positions there are no advertisements that specifically say no minorities hired at this establishment, nor are there any formal orders that say minorities are not qualified (equal employment opportunity laws forbid this kind of discrimination) but they do lie beneath the surface. Most often this is done by citing qualities that are highly subjective or by retrospectively emphasizing/de-emphasizing specific criteria that gives the chosen candidate the edge. There are many different impediments placed upon women that makes it difficult for them to attain a higher work status. With these very negative effects on women and their self-esteem, the glass ceiling has created an even larger problem then just in the work place. Most see the glass ceiling as only being in the work place, which is where it originally was intended for, it has spread to encompass the household and others as well. But with more and more women climbing the corporate ladder, the situation is seeming to change even in a developing country like India, women are earning prestigious positions overtaking their male counterparts. So it is not wrong to say that time is changing.

REFERENCE LIST/ BIBLIOGRAPHY

Canberra Bulletin of Public Administration. 1994. The glass ceiling: Illusory or real? Canberra, Australia: Canberra Bulletin of Public Administration. Morrison, Ann M., R. P. White, E. Van Velsor, and the Center for Creative Leadership. 1987. Breaking the glass ceiling. New York: Addison-Wesley. Wright, Erik Olin. 1989. The comparative project on class structure and class consciousness: An overview.Acta Sociologica Spring 32 (1): 3-22. Shambora, Jessica; Kowitt, Beth (2008-10-16). "50 Most Powerful Women 2008: #1". CNN. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fortune/0809/gallery.women_mostpow erful.fortune/index.html. Retrieved 2009-09-22. Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women http://sitagita.com/bollywood/producers/ekta.html http://www.slideshare.net/kitturashmikittu/presentation-on-ekta-kapoor http://sitagita.com/working-women/women-achievers/kiran-mazumdarshaw-in-the-musculine-domain-of-brewing.html http://www.ibscdc.org/executive-interviews/Shahnaz_Hussain.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Tata http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/2351326.cms http://www.tata.com/company/releases/inside.aspx?artid=/tqGwSxOpv8=. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanda_Kochhar http://www.ibscdc.org/Case_Studies/HRM/HRM0060.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanda_Kochhar