Overview:
We’ve all heard of the glass ceiling… but Dr. Amy Diehl argues the bigger career killer is glass walls—the invisible barriers that block women sideways (roles, rooms, relationships, influence) long before the “top” is even in sight.
In this Quick Lift, we break down the six gender-bias barriers Amy Diehl and Leanne Dzubinski outline in Glass Walls—and the practical “what do we DO about it?” steps leaders, allies, and women can use right now.
You’ll learn:
Why “glass walls” are often harder to spot than a ceiling
The 6 gender-bias barriers (and what they look like at work)
How bias turns into patterns—in meetings, promotions, feedback, and credit
What leaders can change (systems) vs. what individuals can do (moves)
A simple awareness → language → action loop to start shifting culture
Chapters:
00:00 Intro — Glass ceilings vs. glass walls
00:40 Wall #1: Male Privilege (the “default settings” at work)
01:40 Wall #2: Constraints (narrow rules + double-binds)
02:35 Wall #3: Insufficient Support (sponsorship, feedback, networks)
03:30 Wall #4: Devaluation (minimized, overlooked, “good but…”)
04:25 Wall #5: Hostility (backlash, harassment, retaliation)
05:20 Wall #6: Acquiescence (internalizing + opting out)
06:20 What leaders & allies can do (practical fixes)
07:40 Recap + your Quick Lift challenge
Links / Resources:
Purchase Glass Walls: https://amzn.to/4kPgCbE
Amy Diehl: https://amy-diehl.com/
