McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org have released their annual report that underscores prevailing trends of gender inequality in corporate America and what companies can do to address the problem. This year’s major findings continue to demonstrate that women are underrepresented at every stage in the corporate pipeline and face disproportionate discrimination in the workplace. According to the report, the ramifications of corporate gender inequality are especially pronounced for lesbians and women of color.

The study emphasizes the role of hiring and promotion practices in perpetuating this inequality. Research shows that women are less likely to be hired for entry-level jobs despite the fact that more women hold bachelor’s degrees than men. The gap between men and women expands with each step up the corporate ladder. Women hold only 38 percent of manager positions and 22 percent of executive positions. This disparity is largely due to the lack of support women receive from managers and senior leaders. Barriers to advancement are compounded by gender discrimination and sexual harassment, which remains prevalent throughout corporate culture. While 35 percent of women report experiencing sexual harassment at some point in their careers, the situation is even worse for lesbian women (48 percent), women in senior leadership positions (55 percent), and women in technical fields (45 percent).

The report argues that companies will only make significant progress once they restructure their hiring and promotion practices; until companies establish gender equality as a business priority and integrate it into their policies, women’s status in the corporate workplace will remain stagnant.

Compiled from: Rachel Thomas et al., Women in the Workplace 2018, Reachire (October 2018).