Women in public policy and public administration?

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the persistence of gender inequality in public administration in the UK and globally. The implications for the continued under-representation of women are explored. The data reveals vertical and horizontal occupational gender segregation which the paper argues, drawing upon representative bureaucracy research, has policy outcomes for beneficiaries of public services.

IMPACT

The recent social movement campaigns and media coverage about sexual violence against women (for example MeToo) have highlighted the prevalence of this egregious issue; the publication of the gender pay gaps in UK organizations, despite the Equal Pay Act (1970), demonstrates continued inequalities; and as this paper demonstrates the data on women in public administration reveals the persistence of gender inequality in public sector employment. This has implications for public administration institutions. The paper argues that the lack of representation of women and other minorities has policy outcomes for the legitimacy, trust, integrity in public institutions, and public policy productivities and performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Equality
• gender
• public administration
• representation
• representative bureaucracy theory