The Unintended Consequences of Metaphors on Navigating Careers in the U.S.: Focus on International Students and Women of Color

Authors

• Yeongbin (Ellen) Jeon, New York UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper examines how workplace metaphors such as the glass ceiling, sticky floor, maternal wall, and motherhood/fatherhood penalty continue to illuminate structural inequality in the contemporary U.S. labor market. Focusing on the experiences of international students and women of color, it argues that these metaphors are not merely symbolic descriptions but practical frameworks for understanding how race, gender, immigration status, and caregiving expectations shape unequal career outcomes. Drawing on class readings, policy analysis, and personal experience, the paper shows how visa-based hiring restrictions, limited parental leave protections, and racialized gender stereotypes constrain access to employment, advancement, and leadership. It further explores the “bamboo ceiling” and the pressure to assimilate as forms of intersectional disadvantage that particularly affect Asian women in professional settings. A cross-cultural comparison with South Korea highlights how stronger legal protections for parental leave and more active institutional support for working parents can provide an alternative model for workplace equity. Ultimately, the paper argues that overcoming these barriers requires more than individual adaptation or resilience. Meaningful change depends on multi-level reform, including national immigration and family-leave policy, more inclusive corporate hiring and evaluation systems, stronger mentorship structures, and workplace cultures that value authenticity, caregiving, and diversity. By reframing workplace metaphors through an intersectional and transnational lens, this paper emphasizes the need to transform the institutional conditions that continue to reproduce inequality.

Recommended Citation

Jeon, Yeongbin (Ellen) (2026) "The Unintended Consequences of Metaphors on Navigating Careers in the U.S.: Focus on International Students and Women of Color," Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association: Vol. 2025, Article 12.
Available at: https://docs.rwu.edu/nyscaproceedings/vol2025/iss1/12