The Special Agent-In-Charge of the FBI's Seattle Office, Laura Laughlin, has filed suit claiming she has been passed over for promotions because of sex discrimination. Laughlin alleges in her lawsuit that she has been passed over 10 times for promotion in favor of lesser-qualified men. Laughlin has been the Special Agent-In-Charge of the Seattle office for 9 years; usually, an agent holds that position for 2-3 years.
Source: KING-TV (Seattle)
This case suggests two major areas of concern. One is that it appears that Ms. Laughlin may be the victim of "glass ceiling" sex discrimination. Here is some more information about "glass ceiling" discrimination: Proving the "Glass Ceiling" and Sex Discrimination; Glass Ceiling Sex Discrimination Suit Settles for $19 Million.
Another issue that Ms. Laughlin's case presents is the difficulty arising for women attempting to rise into senior leadership positions in what have been historically male-dominated fields. These issues have arisen in a number of prior cases that our office has handled: Walsh Is Target of Sex Bias Claim, Suit Claims Sex Discrimination by Lexington Chief, KSU's New Interim Police Chief Is Suing UK, Suit Says Female UK Police Officers Were Mistreated.
Robert Abell prepared the following Special Report that may be of interest: Sex & Gender Discrimination In Employment -- A SPECIAL REPORT.
Everybody is entitled to fair treatment, not special treatment but fair treatment. Ability and merits should determine promotions not gender or race or religion or other discriminatory criteria.