WINNER - Top Social Innovators
CaSES: Civic and Social Entrepreneurship Summit
California State University, Los Angeles
Dec 7-8, 2017
At CaSES, over 100 students presented innovative solutions to wicked problems in their communities. Students in the Cultural Emotions course first conducted Needs Assessments of their communities to explore the connections between course themes and real-life experience. They worked in teams, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to design solutions and considering the challenges of implementing big ideas for social change.
The final result is a set of presentations that help to define a model of entrepreneurship rooted in social research, community accountability, and practical innovation. For more: www.praxicalsoc.org/strategies
2. What is the Glass Ceiling?
• Problem:
○ Glass ceiling is an unofficial, acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession,
primarily affecting women in the male-dominated corporate world.
• Model:
○ We will hold workshops in high schools educating students on workplace inequality
and assist in structuring school clubs to take part in activism and further education.
• Impact:
○ We hope to see a more diverse and integrated workplace where women are placed in
leadership positions and are not confined by gender roles.
3. We Want to Break that Glass Ceiling!
● Glass Ceiling: an invisible barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising beyond a certain level in a
hierarchy, especially in career and work spaces
● Strong belief on women’s rights and freedom to be successful in male-dominated work industry
● Targeting Cultural Schemas:
○ Stereotypical beliefs & values that women are dependent, weak, emotional, sensitive and inferior
■ Ex) No rewards or promotion given to working women
○ Roles attributed to women: child-bearer, homemaker
● Effects on Women:
○ They cannot act like a leader
○ Ideas are not fully expressed and shown, as women are frequently not included in the management
4. “You Should be Home with Your Children!”
● Obstacles:
1. Double Standards
○ “Act like a man!” or “Be a Boss”
○ Perceived feminine weakness not being able to
hold high positions
○ Women who chooses career over having children
are seen as “selfish”
○ “Slept her way to the top”
2. Gender-based Roles
○ Women are assumed to be emotional and sensitive
○ Women are expected to take care of her children,
cook, clean the home
○ Teachers, nurses
● Citation:
○ Masks and Acculturation (Montoya)
5.
6.
7. Our Organization
Breaking the Glass Ceiling!
● Work with high school students
○ (16-18 years old)
○ Develop their own clubs to take part in
activism and education
● Hold workshops, panels & guest speakers to
create interest
● BTGC will set the example and lead the way by
being a resource to the club
8. Our Organization
Breaking the Glass Ceiling!
● Our goal: collective effervescence
● Activism changing beliefs and language
● Education changing institution
● MomsRising and Education
● Resources we will need
○ Assistance with curriculum
○ Structure
● Allies
○ 10 core members
○ Peers help create interest in
volunteering at CSULA
● Opponents
○ Finding high schools
9. Impact: Reach Out
Long Term Goals (50-100 years)
● Diverse and Integrated Workforce
○ more women in executive positions!
○ more women in male dominated fields!
● Equal pay
Benchmarks
● Establish a thriving organization
● Reach out to a minimum of 5 high schools
● Increased participation in workshops
● Cultivate social media presence
10. Alone, we can do so little; Together, we can do so much
How do we know it’s working?
● Student lead sub organizations
● From students to guest speakers
● Respected women leaders
● Diminishing stereotypes
● Blurring lines between gender roles
Challenges
● Standardizing a curriculum that accommodates a
diverse group of people
● Have our purpose resonate and encourage active
participation in change
Growth
● Consistent improvements and check ups
● Student inputs
11. Making a Change Does Not
Start Later but Now...
● Takeaway:
○ Workplace inequality is an issue affecting us today in
2017! We have experienced the stereotypes in our own
careers and continue to hear stories from other women.
For this reason it is important that we work to change
the beliefs, language and institution that surround
the workplace inequality. We must
BREAK THE GLASS CEILING!
