2016 is a big year for American women. Last month, Hillary Clinton became the first womanto receive a major party nomination for president in the United States.But does her nomination mean all restrictions on woman and their careers are gone?The term "glass ceiling" is often used to describe an unseen barrierthat stops women and minorities from moving up in their careers.American small business owners said in an opinion surveythat the glass ceiling remains in place,even with Hillary Clinton running for president.Bank of America contacted 1,001 business ownersfrom across the country for their opinion on the issue.Seventy-seven percent of the women,and 56 percent of the men said they believe the barrier still existsfor some women and members of minority groups.Aquila Leon-Soon is chief executive officer of Advance Talent Solutions,a company that helps non-profit groups and government with finding workers.She told VOA the glass ceiling is very real."I think that glass ceiling does exist and I would like for peopleto even think more about how it impacts women entrepreneurs."Entrepreneurs launch businesses and are willing to risk money to make money.The Bank of America survey found that 54 percent of women small business ownersdid not feel affected by the glass ceiling.But 46 percent said they had felt limited by it at some time in their careers.Sharon Miller is head of small business at Bank of America.She told VOA the survey shows that more women small business ownersare hopeful about their companies making money than men.And more women than men plan to grow their business over the next five years.Miller said that "from 2015 to 2016, the number of men small-business ownersexpressing optimism about revenue and growth declined significantly,more than 15 percentage points."Most American companies are small businesses-- ones with less than 500 employees.The U.S. Small Business Administration sayssmall businesses make up more than 99 percent of American companies.Miller says the survey found that women want to operate their own businesses."When we asked why did you become an entrepreneur,why did you open your own small business,most of the women answered because I want to be my own boss,because I want to take control of my own destiny."She added they found that women were not opening businessesbecause they were unhappy in their old job."Those are running towards something, not away.So it wasn't because I was unhappy in my previous role or didn't like it,it's that I wanted to build something for myself."A big part of getting a business startedis finding the capital, or money, to finance it.Some people may have to use credit cards,or borrow money from family or friends,or get traditional loans for their businesses.The survey found that more than one in four womenstill feel they do not have the same access to capital as men.Leon-Soon knows about that.She says, the first time she went to a bankto get a loan to pay her employees, she was rejected.Now that her company is established,she does not have trouble getting money.But she says people are still surprised to find women in top leadership."Often I am asked, and people are surprised, they're like, well, can I talk to your boss?And I say, I am the boss. They're like REALLY?!"She says people are also surprisedwhen they find out a successful company is led by a woman."And that shows that as a nation we have a lot morethat we need to do to change the way peopleview entrepreneurs, and how successful women can be."And that most likely means there is a lot more work to be doneto make that glass ceiling disappear.