Shattering Beer's Glass Ceiling: The Rise of Women Brewers

“Women have always been involved in craft beer—but their ranks are growing, and they don't want to be like the boys” this is a quote that was used in the article by the name of Shattering Beer’s Glass Ceiling: The Rise of Women Brewers. After reading this article I was able to learn that there are some gender differences that create a glass ceiling for women in the real business world. In the last few years women have been trying to break the glass ceiling by attaining higher executive positions in many industries and the women in this article are not the exception. Last month three women from different breweries met in Cambridge, Massachusetts to “cook-up” their own beer in an industry that has been defined by being dominated by men and where women still face some challenges.

The article explains that even though women have been part of the craft beer renaissance since its beginnings in the 1980s, it was not until the last decade or so that women have been noticed more on the brewery floor.  It was not until the recent years that women were identified as brewers rather than just “one of the boys” in the industry. One of the questions that was asked was “what’s changing?” One of the women answered “more women are starting to realize there’s a place in the industry for them” (Parisi, 2011). Also, a corker in the quality control from one of the breweries said that it was only in the last two and a half years that he first met a woman brewer.

Megan Parisi, also explains that the culture of the industry is changing in America. She states that more women are drinking beer on their own, which is creating more awareness. But all three women also explain that there are still many differences they are facing within the industry. For example, all three women say they felt welcomed at their breweries, but they do have challenges when it comes to dealing with suppliers, distributors, and customers. Laura Ulrich, who is one of the brewers, explains about the time when she is with a group of men brewers; most people would walk up to the men and never acknowledge her presence. It seems that in fact women do face gender differences and, therefore, a glass ceiling in the beer industry. According to chapter 13^th of our textbook, women face significant gender biases and social disincentives when they self-promote for leadership positions.  This industry is not the exception. The article states that women involved in brewing are still small, particularly because they exclude office staff, sales teams, and bartenders and wait staffs, which are seen more as facilitator or organizer roles rather than leadership roles. I believe the women in this article are self-promoting themselves for a leadership position and therefore making women more socially attractive and more hirable within the industry. Also, another difference is that women are trying to overcome the traits necessary to work in the industry. For example, our text book explains that men are more likely than women to have the ability to persuade and in the article it does tells us that these woman are facing problems when dealing with suppliers, distributors, and customers because women are less likely to negotiate.

I believe if women can overcome the problems dealing with their suppliers and distributors they will be able to break the glass ceiling within the industry because, as the article states, the American culture is changing and more women are trading mixed drinks for beer. I believe these three women brewers are breaking the glass ceiling by trying to show the industry that women do have what it takes to play in this “boy’s game”. Do you think we will be seeing more companies within the beer industry hiring more women as leaders? Do you think the American culture is changing within this industry?

Posted By: Hugo Sanchez

To read more go to http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/03/shattering-beers-glass-ceiling-the-rise-of-women-brewers/72156/