Latinx COVID-19 outcomes: Expanding the role of representative bureaucracy

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected many already marginalized groups, including the Latinx population in the United States. While preexisting inequities have amplified the negative impacts of the pandemic, culturally sensitive crisis response is challenged by the diversity and intersecting identities of the nation’s second largest ethnic group. This article examines COVID-19 related inequities among the Latinx population through the lens of Representative Bureaucracy, and suggests that public administration can address COVID-19 inequities through the promotion of passive, active, and symbolic representation while taking into consideration the unique within-group diversity of the Latinx experience. We further suggest that leveraging social networks are one path forward and can demonstrate the particular importance of symbolic representation during crisis response.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• Latinx
• Representative Bureaucracy
• social equity

Disclosure statement

There are no financial interests or benefits gained from the applications of this work.

Notes

1 When citing the work of others throughout this paper, we have adopted whichever terminology is used so as not to generalize to an inappropriate sub-group.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pamela S. Medina

Pamela S. Medina (PhD University of Central Florida) is assistant professor of Public Administration at CSUSB. Her most recent work has appeared in the Journal of Public Affairs Education, the International Journal of Policy Studies, and the Journal of Health and Human Services Administration.

Lauren Azevedo

Lauren Azevedo is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg. She conducts research in nonprofit management and leadership, capacity building, diversity, and equity. She can be reached at [email protected]