bamboo ceiling
A social barrier to further promotion or progression, in employment and elsewhere, for a person of East Asian ethnicity.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She feels the bamboo ceiling prevents her from getting a promotion.”
“He worries that the bamboo ceiling stops him from becoming a director.”
“Despite her excellent performance and years of experience, she realized that the bamboo ceiling was blocking her path to senior management.”
“Many activists argue that companies must change their hiring culture to help talented Asian professionals break through the bamboo ceiling and reach executive roles.”
“The new mentorship program aims to support employees who face the bamboo ceiling when they try to move into leadership positions.”
“Sociologists often analyze how the bamboo ceiling functions as an invisible, systemic obstacle that limits the professional advancement of talented employees of East Asian descent.”
first recorded 21st c.
The term was coined in 2005 by Jane Hyun in her book, Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling. It was formed on the model of the existing phrase glass ceiling, substituting the material to address specific barriers in a professional context.
- 01
brass ceiling
An unwritten, uncodified barrier to promotion or progression for women in law enforcement or the military.
- 02
glass ceiling
An unrecognized or unwritten barrier to further progression or promotion, in employment and elsewhere, for a member of a specific demographic group (originally women).
- 03
scrape someone off the ceiling
Used to describe the response to someone who is either experiencing great pain, who is very frightened, or is very elated.
Last updated August 10, 2026