Assessing Gender Equity in Public Administration Research: Findings and a Theory-Driven Agenda

Abstract

The foundational theories of public administration emphasize equity. The present study investigates whether we have behaved accordingly in our own scholarship and theorizes a forward-looking model. Do female scholars enjoy equal representation across public administration's top subfield journals? Our empirical analysis emphasizes what others have found: Gender disparities have persisted in our field. For example, female first authors are less prevalent in our journals than male first authors. Our 20-year analysis focuses on top associational journals from public administration's nonprofit (NVSQ), policy analysis (JPAM), and public management (PAR, JPART) subfields. What are the possible mechanisms that drive gender bias in public administration publications? Drawing on social role theory, we attempt to map possible gender bias mechanisms, including those beyond our present analysis, that may pertain to scholarly equity. Our model and discussion raise a broader agenda to clarify and rectify gender equity in our own scholarship.