Liz Truss and the Glass Cliff

Katie Nelmes

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On the 6th of September 2022, Liz Truss formally became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after defeating Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Leadership race. Despite it being very early days into her premiership, there is already speculation that the newly appointed PM will be out of office by December, with rumours of no-confidence letters already being written. But why does it seem like Truss’ fate has already been sealed before her work has even begun? This could be explained by the glass cliff theory.

What is the glass cliff theory?

You may have heard of the term ‘glass ceiling’ which suggests that women struggle to break through to leadership positions, in fields such as business or politics. The glass cliff theory, on the other hand, evaluates what happens once women are already in positions of leadership.

“gender stereotypes which suggest that women are not suited to lead are reinforced”

The theory suggests that women are placed in leadership positions in times of crisis because they allegedly hold stereotypically ‘female’ attributes, such as being more caring than men. However, because these situations are so challenging and because women are often unsupported in leadership roles, it is more likely that they will fail.  Consequentially, gender stereotypes which suggest that women are not suited to lead are reinforced, thus setting women’s equality further back.

Crucial to understanding this theory is the idea that it is not suggesting that women should not be in leadership positions. In fact, it does quite the opposite: explaining that while women can (and should) ascend to the top jobs in politics or business, they often face an extra layer of discrimination when they get there.

A Wide-Spanning Theory

The same theory applies to other minority groups who are often underrepresented in leadership positions, such as those of racial minorities, social classes, or disabled people. Hence, those women who fall into multiple marginalised groups often face multiple sources of discrimination, as is the key tenet of intersectional feminism.

“Many have already speculated about Truss’ downfall, just days into her getting the top job”

It is also important to note that not every woman will fall victim to the fate of the glass cliff theory. All leaders inevitably face some level of criticism, regardless of their race, gender, or class, and indeed many women are remarkably well-established within politics as long-standing figures of authority.

Professor Michelle Ryan, for instance, points to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel as an example of a female leader who performed “terrifically well” in her role. And indeed, it would be nonsensical to discuss inspirational female leaders without mentioning the leadership of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was and remains widely admired for her strong leadership through difficult times.

How does this relate to Liz Truss?

If you’ve been watching the news at all recently, you will have heard about Liz Truss’s in-tray from hell. She faces a cost-of-living crisis in the UK, problems with Brexit, conflict in Northern Ireland, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Many have already speculated about Truss’ downfall, just days into her getting the top job, suggesting she has been set up for failure before she has even begun.

This is all the more striking and relevant when we consider the possibility that Boris Johnson may be planning to make a come-back as Prime Minister in future, something which was hinted at during his final speech as Prime Minister in which he compared himself to Cincinnatus, a Roman dictator who returned to help the Empire after taking a break from leadership.

In her TED Talk, Sophie Williams suggests that white men often replace women because of the ‘saviour effect’, putting the institution back in ‘safe hands’ and back to business as usual, whilst women are doubted and underrepresented.

Further examples of the glass cliff

I first heard of the glass cliff theory in relation to Theresa May. There are clear parallels between these two female Prime Ministers, with May facing the Brexit political crisis and Truss facing the cost-of-living crisis, whilst also dealing with the longer-term impacts of Brexit.

“‘I don’t think that it is a coincidence that we have Theresa May at the helm, while David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Nigel Farage all stood back from leadership roles'”

Speaking to the Guardian Australia, Professor Michelle Ryan states that women are put in leadership positions that are “risky and precarious”. Linking this to Australian politics, Ryan describes how women are put in “unwinnable” or “marginal” seats. For politicians from minority backgrounds, Ryan suggested they must deal with a “poisoned chalice”, and that it is not “a coincidence that we have Theresa May at the helm, while David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Nigel Farage all stood back from leadership roles”.

Final Thoughts

To return to Sophie Williams and her incredible TED Talk suggests that it is our collective role to tackle our conscious and unconscious biases against minority groups. Only by doing so will marginalised groups be treated equally and get the support they deserve not only when they are in leadership positions, but throughout their careers.

Readers may or may not agree with the glass cliff theory, and to who it may be applied. During my research, I have found that some find it controversial to attach the theory to certain politicians who are quite rightly critiqued for aspects of their politics – they argue that the glass cliff theory can be a way to excuse problematic behaviour.

I have merely sought to explore the theory and see its relation to modern political leadership, not to endorse or excuse any extreme political views.

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Featured image courtesy of Lindsey LaMont via Unsplash. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image.