Title: Glass walls and glass ceilings: the case of public procurement

Authors: Clifford P. McCue; Alexandru V. Roman; Jorene Jameson

Addresses: School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, 33431 FL, USA ' College of Business and Public Administration, California State University, San Bernardino, San Bernardino, 92407 CA, USA ' School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, 33431 FL, USA

Abstract: While there has been some progress at the federal level in terms of addressing gender pay inequalities and promotional opportunities for women, it is not fully clear whether this trend is replicated at the state and local levels. Examining the sub-national level of government, this research attempts to determine if women are being paid less than men, and even in those occupations considered 'pink collar' (nursing, teaching, etc.) are women still segregated in lower level positions? To this end, this research examines pay differentials and positional demographics within state and local government purchasing. The main contribution that this research makes is located in the fact that a gender pay gap (glass ceiling) across positions and gender positional segregation within traditional 'pink collar' jobs are still serious concerns at the state and local level of government in the USA.

Keywords: gender; women; pay equity; public procurement; state and local government; glass ceiling; glass walls; glass escalator; glass cliff; pink collar.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2017.087316

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2017 Vol.10 No.6, pp.706 - 728

Received: 19 May 2016
Accepted: 26 Nov 2016

Published online: 12 Oct 2017 *

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