Making a Difference for Women : New study suggests state and local governments are helping to break the ‘glass ceiling’

Is a new survey of women in top state and local government posts just another depressing reminder of the existence of the “glass ceiling” that blocks the advancement of women and minorities? Yes and no.

The Center for Women in Government, at the State University of New York at Albany, found some good news in its national survey, released last week. Structural barriers that typically impede women’s hiring and promotion prospects may be considerably less formidable in government than in the business world. In private enterprise, the U.S. Labor Department has found that women make up about 6% of the top business executives; other studies have put that number under 3%.

That’s quite a contrast with state and local government. Women held 31% of high-level state and local government jobs nationwide in 1990 and about 20% of Cabinet-level state posts. California fared slightly better than average--over 35% of top state and local government jobs were held by women.

None of this is to say that government service yet offers true parity for women. As center director Sharon Harlan put it, “There are still a lot of structural barriers in place for women.” Minority women in government did worse proportionally than white women, the study found, with black women making up 5% of top managers, compared to almost 10% of lower-level positions. And the center, which used federal statistical data, found that states had a poorer record than local governments.

While barriers like the “old boy network” and lax enforcement of anti-discrimination laws continue to block women in private business, other forces--structural and political--have allowed more women to rise in state and local government. Civil service systems, often criticized, have regularized and formalized the promotion process to the benefit of women. Many state and local governments have diligently enforced agency affirmative action goals. And personal commitment of elected officials helps. Texas Gov. Ann Richards, Houston’s former Mayor Kathy Whitmire and others have worked for gender balance and breaking the glass ceiling.

The L.A. City Council and the County Board of Supervisors have formally recommended gender balance in appointments to boards and commissions, and the proportion of women in these posts is rising. These actions are making a difference.