Women Employees, Entrepreneurs, and the Economy : A Tale of Two Ceilings

Women as employees or as entrepreneurs face multiple glass ceilings; one as an employee restricts leadership opportunities and constricts earnings that motivate her into entrepreneurship. Then, a second glass ceiling as an entrepreneur limits her access to capital that stymies business revenues, job creation, and expansion for her business enterprises. When opportunities, promotions, and subsequent pay raises are restricted, women face the first glass ceiling (Barreto, et al., 2009; Bertrand, 2018; Buckalew, et al., 2012). Out of frustration, women seek entrepreneurship, as a means to have equal opportunities, earn more, and enjoy a flexible work-life balance (Coughlin & Thomas, 2002; Nixdorff & Rosen, 2010; Orhan & Scott, 2001). As entrepreneurs, the second glass ceiling occurs when women encounter barriers to obtaining sufficient capital for business operations and expansion (Bosse & Taylor, 2012)