Are Socially Constructed Biases Keeping The Glass Ceiling Alive?

This study evaluated the impact of self-reported agency on socially constructed biases in relation to promotional opportunities in the Class 8 truck manufacturing industry. The assessment was deployed in the summer of 2020 amid the COVID pandemic and subsequently limited the number of companies involved in the study. The study utilized feminism as a framework to evaluate women’s oppression. The Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Values (CSIV) was distributed to evaluate a set of self-reported agentic and communal values. Findings showed that there was statistical significance when looking at the communal values of men. The data also showed that men were more likely to apply for promotional opportunities, and when they applied, they were more likely than women to be promoted. In addition, there was a high preference for agency for both men and women when considering only those who participated in professional development and training opportunities. While the findings are not generalizable to the industry, this study is replicable and can be used to gather further insights.