The decision may demonstrate some of the limits of Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, which employer-side attorneys have argued favors plaintiffs alleging job discrimination.

The City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, chose a candidate with greater leadership experience for a management position, the appeals court said.

The glass ceiling and promotional bias hold women back, but so do women’s own expectations of themselves, according to recent reports.

Progress on the pay gap has generally stalled, various reports indicate, and it is particularly notable in food service.