Female Assistant City Managers and Department Directors in Texas Cities: Describing Employment and Work Patterns and how they Compare to Career Aspirations and Work-Related Attitudes By Ashley Wayman Applied Research Project [email protected] Submitted to the Department of Political Science Texas State University-San Marcos In Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Administration Spring 2019 Patricia M. Shields, PhD Sherri L. Mora, PhD Stephanie Reyes, MPA Table of Contents About the Author ........................................................................................................................ 5 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter I: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 8 Spotlight: Women in City Management .................................................................................... 8 Sheryl Sculley – Past City Manager, City of San Antonio ...................................................... 8 Julie M. Robinson – City Administrator, City of Spring Valley Village .................................. 9 Karen Daly – ICMA Mountain Plains Regional Director ......................................................10 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................12 Chapter Summaries ...............................................................................................................12 Chapter II: Literature Review ....................................................................................................14 Chapter Purpose ....................................................................................................................14 Historical Overview of Women in Public Administration .........................................................14 Legal Framework of Female Employment ...............................................................................19 The Municipal Government Employment Model .....................................................................22 Career Paths of Female City Managers in Texas ......................................................................24 Conceptual Framework ..........................................................................................................26 Demographic / Independent Characteristics .............................................................................27 Age .................................................................................................................................27 Marital Status ...................................................................................................................29 Dependent Children ..........................................................................................................30 Adult/Elder Care Responsibilities .......................................................................................32 Years of Experience ..........................................................................................................33 Education ........................................................................................................................34 Employment Characteristics ..................................................................................................35 Position ...........................................................................................................................36 Department/Functional Area ..............................................................................................37 Mentorship Status .............................................................................................................38 Organizational Tenure ......................................................................................................39 City Size ..........................................................................................................................41 Presence of a Female City Manager ....................................................................................42 Work Patterns and Arrangements ...........................................................................................43 Full-Time Status ...............................................................................................................43 Hours Worked Per Week ....................................................................................................44 Job Demands ....................................................................................................................45 Professional Activities .......................................................................................................46 Availability of Flexible Work Arrangements .........................................................................48 Work Related Attitudes .........................................................................................................49 Career Aspirations ............................................................................................................49 Promotional Opportunities .................................................................................................50 2 Work Commitment ............................................................................................................51 Career Commitment ..........................................................................................................52 Balanced Life-Style Career Orientation ...............................................................................53 Supportive Work-Family Life/Culture ..................................................................................54 Summary of Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................55 Table 2.1: Conceptual Framework Table .................................................................................55 Chapter III: Methodology ..........................................................................................................57 Chapter Purpose ....................................................................................................................57 Operationalization Table ........................................................................................................57 Table 3.1: Operationalization Table ........................................................................................58 Survey Methodology ...............................................................................................................60 Survey ................................................................................................................................60 Strengths and Weaknesses .....................................................................................................61 Survey Questions .................................................................................................................61 Subject Identification .............................................................................................................62 Human Subjects Protection ....................................................................................................63 Survey Analysis ......................................................................................................................64 Chapter IV: Results ...................................................................................................................65 Chapter Purpose ....................................................................................................................65 Response Rate ........................................................................................................................65 Demographic/Independent Characteristics ..............................................................................66 Age.....................................................................................................................................66 Marital Status.......................................................................................................................67 Dependent Children ..............................................................................................................67 Elder Care Responsibilities ....................................................................................................68 Years of Experience ..............................................................................................................68 Education ............................................................................................................................69 Qualitative Themes – Demographic and Independent Characteristics ..........................................69 Employment Characteristics ...................................................................................................71 Position ...............................................................................................................................71 Department/Functional Area ..................................................................................................72 Mentorship Status .................................................................................................................73