Women in Public Administration

Abstract

This article explores some aspects of the place of gender in educating public administrators for leadership, an important component of re-orienting women’s public sector role. While previous research has examined the place of gender in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) diversity and core courses, this study adds to our knowledge by analyzing gender in popular introductory MPA textbooks and in leadership courses. The aim is not only to see whether these offerings cover gender issues but whether they explore such issues only through a legal lens or supplement that approach with analysis of stereotypes in the gendered workplace—what management scholars call second-generation bias issues. The research finds that introductory textbooks and most leadership courses do not include material on second-generation bias issues. This tendency is unfortunate as some feminist theorists argue that adding education in second-generation bias issues to MPA education would help increase the role of women as leaders.