Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Major/Program
Public Administration
First Advisor's Name
Dr. Mohamad Alkadry
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Dr. Meredith Newman
Second Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Third Advisor's Name
Dr. Shaoming Cheng
Third Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fourth Advisor's Name
Dr. Susannah Ali
Fourth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fifth Advisor's Name
Dr. Vrushali Patil
Fifth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Keywords
Gender, Authority, Career Choice, Local Government, Chief Administrative Officers, Public Managers, Equal Employment Opportunity
Date of Defense
5-30-2017
Abstract
In 2016, women represented 16.6% of all Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in local governments across the United States. Previous studies have investigated gender disparities in managerial representation, which is explained by the glass ceiling phenomenon; however, little is known about whether the women that occupy these male dominated positions have the similar levels of responsibilities as their male counterparts. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation is to understand if gender disparities in levels of work authority manifest as a new form of the glass ceiling. Work authority in this study is operationalized as CAOs’ sanctioning authority (control over personnel operations) and decision-making authority (control over formal operations). Using a mixed methods research design, this investigation is implemented in two phases. The first phase employs Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression to explore the relationship between CAOs’ gender and CAOs’ level of work authority as well as the relationship between CAOs’ levels of work authority and annual pay. In the second phase, using a qualitative research method, I conduct an in-depth investigation of similarities and differences in the career paths of CAOs and the factors that shape their career-related decisions.
This research has five main findings. First, female CAOs do not have similar level of sanctioning authority as their male counterparts. Second, disparities in level of sanctioning authority yield economic inequality among CAOs. Third, male and female CAOs take different career paths. Last, female CAOs perform dual roles—professional and personal—whereas most male CAOs are less burdened with household responsibilities in their personal lives. Last, for female CAOs with family responsibilities, their career paths are significantly fashioned by the presence of institutional and social support networks.
Findings inform policy makers and public management practices. It informs that gender-based disparities in the workforce continually manifest in new forms, creating unequal employment opportunities for men and women in the workforce. Such disparities also continue perpetuating economic inequalities among men and women in the workforce. Also, it informs public management practices of the critical impact that institutional support has on leveling the playing field women to participate in male-dominated careers.
Identifier
FIDC001919
Recommended Citation
Bishu, Sebawit G., "Gender and Authority in the Public Sector: The Case of Local Government Chief Administrative Officers in the United States" (2017). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3476.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3476
Included in
Organization Development Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Public Administration Commons, Public Affairs Commons, Public Policy Commons
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