Jerry (a Youtube commenter) writes:
"I got confused on signing glass ceiling, with the sign for work and stairs --
can anyone explain?"
Response from Dr. Bill:
The phrase "glass ceiling" has nothing to do with actual stairs nor real glass.
It is a metaphor.
Definition of "a glass ceiling":
An unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially
affecting women and members of minorities.
(*Source: Lexico)
The sign for "work" is not required. It is simply a "context" building sign to
indicate that you are discussing "employment." However glass ceilings don't have
to take place in the context of employment -- they can happen wherever /
whenever such discrimination takes place.
In the video example of "glass ceiling" I'm not signing "stairs" -- rather I'm
doing a version of "advance through ranks or levels" which, in context can mean
"promotions."
Then at some point a person is blocked from further advancement "as if" they had
hit a glass ceiling.
Reference:
Glass Ceiling: Definition of Glass Ceiling by Lexico. (n.d.). Oxford University
Press & Dictionary.com.
Retrieved 9/19/2019 from https : // www . lexico . com/en/definition/glass_ceiling
Notes: