Answer to Question 1
Job satisfaction is a positive appraisal of one's work. It is a multifaceted concept including such variables as hope, resilience, self-efficacy, and optimism. Most people, given time, find jobs in which they are reasonably happy. However, research indicates that job satisfaction does not increase in all areas nor in all jobs over time. People in white-collar jobs tend to show an increase in satisfaction over time, whereas people in blue-collar jobs do not. This finding holds true for both men and women and across cultures. Job satisfaction is also influenced by the type of job one has, where one is in one's career development, the types of family responsibilities one has, and the amount of flexibility one has in their work to accommodate these responsibilities.
Answer to Question 2
Why are there so few women in the top ranks of major corporations? One reason is gender discrimination. Gender discrimination is when a person is denied a job solely on the basis of their sex. Gender discrimination is pervasive in many aspects of the workplace. A related concept is the glass ceiling, a level in an organization to which one may rise, but above which one may not go. Some evidence suggests the glass ceiling is pervasive in higher management and professional settings and may help explain why women sense a barrier between upper tier and lower tier positions.
Another related concept is the glass cliff. In times of corporate crisis, women are more likely to be put in critical corporate roles. Consequently, women find their leadership positions precarious.
