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    1. Life
    2. Money and Work

    Sexism rife at work, Marie Claire survey suggests

    Eighty per cent of women think that being attractive helps them get on better at work and more than half believe a woman's age is considered more important in the workplace than a man’s according to a shocking new survey

    By Helen Russell
    Published 13 May 2011 In Reports

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Office worker with inappropriate cleavage
    Office worker with inappropriate cleavage
    (Image credit: Rex Features)
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    Eighty per cent of women think that being attractive helps them get on better at work and more than half believe a woman's age is considered more important in the workplace than a man’s according to a shocking new survey

    Eighty per cent of women think that being attractive helps them get on better at work and more than half believe a woman’s age is considered more important in the workplace than a man’s according to a shocking new survey.

    What’s more, 61 per cent of women think men are better at getting pay rises and promotions than women according to the study on attitudes to working life.

    Marie Claire and everywoman, the women in business network, commissioned the national survey of 3,000 women aged between 18 and 55. And the results were startling.

    CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR INSPIRE & MENTOR CAMPAIGN

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    It turns out that sexism is still rife in the workplace and when it comes to pay, promotion and age, women are still at a disadvantage.

    Half of us believe that the glass ceiling exists - but we don’t think that positive discrimination is a good thing.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    When asked what would have the biggest impact on helping women climb the career ladder, most of you said having a mentor would help.

    In fact, a whopping two thirds of us think mentoring is essential but few of us (72 per cent) have ever been given the opportunity.

    Trish Halpin, editor in chief of Marie Claire, says: 'The results prove that there is a real need for mentoring in the workplace to help women fulfill their potential.'

    What to read next
    • Carrie Bradshaw and Mr Big standing outdoors in Sex and the City, a show that influenced what women expect from men in romantic relationships. “I Expected Men to Be Financial Providers, But Not Emotionally Safe”—What We Ask From Male Partners Has Changed, But Is It For Better or Worse?
    • Two women running on a track From Clubs to Marathon Sign-Ups, I’m Witnessing More and More Women Engaging in Sport—Here’s Why It’s Happening
    • Reverend Pippa White, author of Not a Priestess: Tales from Beyond the Pulpit, shares her experiences of sexism as a female vicar in the Church of England. I Thought That When I Became a Vicar, the Sexist Remarks Would Stop—I Couldn’t Have Been More Wrong

    So here at Marie Claire HQ, we’re taking action. For the second year running, we’ve joined forces with The Prince's Trust and some of the UK's most inspirational and influential women to bring you Marie Claire’s Inspire & Mentor campaign

    High profile women from the world of film, fashion, beauty and business will mentor Marie Claire readers throughout the 12 month campaign – including model turned baker Lorraine Pascale, author and producer Jane Fallon, Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird, BSkyB MD Sophie Turner Laing and make-up artist Jemma Kidd.

    WANT TO BE MENTORED? CLICK HERE

    JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AND BECOME A MARIE CLAIRE MENTOR, HERE

    Helen Russell
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