It lets women see the heels holding them down? (5,7)
I believe the answer is:
glass ceiling
'down?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for glass ceiling that I've seen before include "Barrier affecting women and minorities" , "It prevents the promotion of minorities and women" , "Discriminatory barrier to promotion" , "Unseen barrier to women's advancement" , "Artificial bar to promotion" .)