Many minorities, especially women, were subjected to unfair treatment. This ultimately caused the pursuit of success to be something many considered unattainable; cause of everything – Discrimination. Discrimination can be defined as the unfair or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things; particularly for reasons of race, age or gender. Discrimination has been present throughout the world since the conception of time, and even today discrimination plays an important role. Discrimination being the main word, it is used on the basis of affirmative action and the term "glass ceiling". Affirmative action can be defined as the steps and processes taken for women and minorities to excel in many areas, including especially the workplace, while the term “glass ceiling” refers to the attitudes, barriers and stereotypes that impede progress. For women to have equal opportunities in the workplace, it is necessary to eliminate primitive sexual harassment and stereotypes in the office by having companies create a skills-based diversity training program that teaches employees how to be open-minded. Affirmative action has a bipartisan history. Affirmative action had the sole purpose of bringing about equality among many and equal opportunities for all. The requirement that federal contracts contain a clause prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, and national origin has been an integral part of federal contracting policy since 1941, when President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 putting ban discrimination in the war industries. This order was reinforced by the executive orders of four other successful presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwi... center of paper......the-glass-ceiling-still-exists-places-of-excellence ?INTCMP= SRCH>Uva, Bryan J. “Affirmative Action” San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2000: PAGE NUMBERSGuernsey, JoAnn Bren. “Affirmative action: a problem or a remedy?” Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company 1997: PAGE NUMBERScHaney, Meris. March 15, 2011 "Catherine McHaney: In Her Own Words" Personal Interview. Suchitra, Steven Samuel. “Breaking the glass ceiling.” Khaleej Times Online December 2, 2011. February 13, 2012 .William, Mary E. "Discrimination: Opposing Views" San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997: PAGE NUMBERS Woods, Geraldine. “Affirmative Action” New York: Franklin Watts, 1989: PAGE NUMBERS