Gender representation in MPA ethics courses

ABSTRACT

Public administration frequently focuses on values such as diversity, equity, and representation through academic theory, professional standards, and educational accreditation. Research has shown that diversity efforts in faculty hiring and pedagogy have positive impacts on student success. This study measured gender representation in graduate public administration ethics course syllabi through the lens of representative bureaucracy theory. The researcher found that both male and female gender is represented (passive), but opportunities for students to see reflections of gender diversity in faculty and authors of course material heavily favor males. Active representation theory is demonstrated with increases in female-authored materials by female professors, but overall reflection opportunities are majority male-authored. While the surface level visibility of gender via professors or written scholarship may not be a substantive sign of gender inclusion, lack of inclusion or limited opportunities may serve as a symptom of the larger problem of barriers to equity and inclusion in the public administration workforce.

KEYWORDS:

• Diversity
• ethics
• social equity

Acknowledgments

In line with the theme of this article, and based on the helpful recommendation of a blind peer reviewer, the gender breakdown of authors for citations used in this article are as follows: 70 female authors, 29 male authors, and 9 unknown/not-listed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle D. Evans

Michelle D. Evans is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Service at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Her research interests include nonprofit performance management, volunteerism and service learning, ethics, and social equity/diversity. Prior to joining the world of academia, Dr. Evans spent more than 20 years working as a nonprofit practitioner. She spent the majority of her nonprofit career with Special Olympics, based first in the international office in Washington, DC and more recently in state and local Special Olympics programs in Florida. She managed sports training and competition programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities, volunteer management programs, and taught Special Olympics coach training programs.