The ‘glass cliff’ theory was first raised in 2004 by Michelle K. Ryan and Alexander Haslam at Exeter University.
They studied Futse 100 companies and discovered that women were more likely to be employed by companies that were consistently demonstrating already poor performance.
They came up with the term as an extension of the glass ceiling, suggesting that once women achieve influential roles, they occupy more precarious positions, hence their position on a ‘cliff edge’.
Theresa May was unchallenged when she became leader of Conservatives in 2016 and then became Prime Minister despite being on the losing side of the referendum.
Her male counterparts who dropped out then are now front runners for the top job.
This is in line with the ‘glass cliff’ theory. However, Mrs May’s critics argue that she was to blame for her failure and should not have set out her restrictive red lines or called a snap election in 2018 where the Conservatives lost the majority.
But are all female politicians set up to fail?
The UK’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was able to capitalise on the winter of discontent when James Callahan’s government put Labour in damaging opposition to the trade unions
Mrs Thatcher still managed to become the 20th century’s longest serving Prime Minister.
There is evidence that supports the theory..
Marissa Mayer was appointed CEO of Yahoo, only after they had lost a significant market share to Google and Jill Aronson was sacked as the New York Times editor, she was referred to as ‘ the victim of an already failing print press’.
1n 1993, the Canadian Progressive Party was widely expected to lose in the upcoming general elections and subsequently elected defence minister, Kim Campbell, as leader.
The party’s total number of seats dropped from 156 to just two.
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HeadlineThe ‘Glass Cliff’ phenomenon: Are female leaders set up to fail?
Short HeadlineIs Theresa May a victim of the 'Glass Cliff'?
StandfirstWomen in leadership roles, from chief executives to prime ministers are more likely to gain such roles in times of crisis
The ‘glass cliff’ theory was first raised in 2004 by Michelle K. Ryan and Alexander Haslam at Exeter University.
They studied Futse 100 companies and discovered that women were more likely to be employed by companies that were consistently demonstrating already poor performance.
They came up with the term as an extension of the glass ceiling, suggesting that once women achieve influential roles, they occupy more precarious positions, hence their position on a ‘cliff edge’.
Theresa May was unchallenged when she became leader of Conservatives in 2016 and then became Prime Minister despite being on the losing side of the referendum.
Her male counterparts who dropped out then are now front runners for the top job.
This is in line with the ‘glass cliff’ theory. However, Mrs May’s critics argue that she was to blame for her failure and should not have set out her restrictive red lines or called a snap election in 2018 where the Conservatives lost the majority.
But are all female politicians set up to fail?
The UK’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was able to capitalise on the winter of discontent when James Callahan’s government put Labour in damaging opposition to the trade unions
Mrs Thatcher still managed to become the 20th century’s longest serving Prime Minister.
There is evidence that supports the theory..
Marissa Mayer was appointed CEO of Yahoo, only after they had lost a significant market share to Google and Jill Aronson was sacked as the New York Times editor, she was referred to as ‘ the victim of an already failing print press’.
1n 1993, the Canadian Progressive Party was widely expected to lose in the upcoming general elections and subsequently elected defence minister, Kim Campbell, as leader.
The party’s total number of seats dropped from 156 to just two.
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