For instance, while female lawyers abound, their aspirations to become judges are perceived as socially undesirable. The difficulties that successful women experience in breaking glass ceilings in their workplace and the consequent gender-specific barriers that women place on themselves as defense mechanisms become emotionally draining. These hurdles can be so formidable that they sometimes abandon all efforts to make it to the top of large firms. Over the years, women have made substantial progress in closing the gender gap in managerial and professional jobs. Though an increasing number of women are now being accepted in professional roles, a professional career for a woman is still seen with a certain amount of suspicion.
Most female managers reach middle management levels relatively easily.
The hitch comes when she aspires to reach the top levels of her organization - whether in the private or public sector or in political life. A woman is no less ambitious than her male counterparts. She has invested in her qualifications, works as hard and is as determined as her male colleague. Irrespective of this, women hold a mere 2-3 per cent of top jobs in corporations. And even when they do manage to rise to the top, female executives nearly always earn less than men.