plafond de verre

/pla.fɔ̃ də vɛʁ/

glass ceiling

Malgré ses compétences, elle n'a jamais pu accéder à un poste de direction à cause du plafond de verre dans son entreprise.

Despite her skills, she never managed to reach a leadership position because of the glass ceiling in her company.

◆ What It Really Means

A metaphorical barrier that prevents qualified individuals from advancing to higher positions in their careers, particularly due to discrimination or bias.

¶ Literal Meaning

A ceiling made of glass

Literal Breakdown

plafondceiling+de verreof glass

◇ Mental Image

A transparent ceiling that allows one to see the higher positions but prevents physical or social ascent.

◈ When to Use

A manager notices that no women have been promoted to executive roles in their company despite many qualified female employees. They attribute this to a 'plafond de verre.'

◉ Cultural Note

The term gained prominence in the 1980s feminist movement in the U.S. and has since been adopted in French-speaking contexts to highlight gender and racial disparities in professional advancement.

formal

An unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and minorities.

Le plafond de verre empêche les femmes d'accéder aux postes les plus élevés dans de nombreuses entreprises.

The glass ceiling prevents women from reaching the highest positions in many companies.

Les minorités ethniques font souvent face à un plafond de verre dans les secteurs traditionnellement dominés par les Blancs.

Ethnic minorities often face a glass ceiling in sectors traditionally dominated by white people.

The term emphasizes systemic, often invisible obstacles rather than individual limitations.

Collocations

briser le plafond de verreto break the glass ceilingfrapper le plafond de verreto hit the glass ceilingplafond de verre persistantpersistent glass ceiling

Synonyms

barrière invisible obstacle invisible

Antonyms

ascenseur social égalité des chances

Related Phrases

plafond de bétonphrase

A more rigid, insurmountable barrier compared to the glass ceiling.

paroi de verrephrase

A barrier that is visible but difficult to overcome, often used interchangeably with 'plafond de verre.'

Pro Tip

Contextual Usage

Use 'plafond de verre' when discussing systemic barriers rather than individual failures. It implies a societal or organizational issue, not a personal one.

Gold Rule

Avoid Literal Translation

Do not translate 'plafond de verre' as 'glass floor' or 'glass roof.' The phrase specifically refers to an invisible barrier preventing upward mobility.

Word Origin

The term emerged in the 1980s in the United States, popularized by sociologist Marilyn Loden. It metaphorically describes the invisible barrier that prevents qualified individuals (especially women and minorities) from rising to top positions despite their competence.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in discussions about gender inequality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. It is often employed in both academic and media contexts.

Word Breakdown

plafond

ceiling

noun

de verre

of glass

prepositional phrase

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais