glass cliff

plural glass cliffs

1. human sciencesA phenomenon where women in leadership roles are likelier than men to achieve such roles during periods of crisis or downturn, when the risk of failure is highest.

   Since her appointment, she [Linda Yaccarino] has been linked with the “glass cliff” theory, put forward in 2005 by researchers at the University of Exeter. The theory posits that women are more likely to be promoted or brought into top jobs at times of a crisis and thus set up for failure.

   2023 September 30, Hannah Murphy, “The wildest job in Silicon Valley”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18