What term refers to an invisible barrier that prevents women in religious leadership from reaching higher-status roles?

• A. Stained glass ceiling
• B. Glass ceiling
• C. Tonal barrier
• D. Clerical barrier

Answer: (A)

Stained glass ceiling is the term because it conveys a barrier to advancement that is specific to religious settings, using the imagery of stained glass found in churches to symbolize how sacred traditions and gender norms can limit women from reaching higher leadership roles. While the general glass ceiling describes gender-based obstacles across many fields, this context-specific phrase highlights the unique religious context in which ordination, leadership, and authority have historically been restricted. The other options don’t capture that religious framing; they describe the broad idea or are not established terms for this context.