Breaking the glass ceiling, but facing a glass cliff? The role of organizational decline in women's representation in leadership positions in Dutch civil service organizations. (12th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Groeneveld, Sandra; Bakker, Vincent; Schmidt, Eduard
• Other Names: Benish Avishai guestEditor.; Mattei Paolo guestEditor.; Lenschow Andrea guestEditor.; Burns Charlotte guestEditor.; Zito Anthony guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Public administration. Volume 98:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 441
• Page End: 464
• Publication Date: 2019-12-12
• Subjects: Public administration -- Periodicals; Civil service -- Periodicals; 350
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.12632
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3298

Abstract

Abstract: Despite efforts to increase gender diversity and equality worldwide, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in public bureaucracies. This article speaks to the debate on how organizational context, more specifically organizational decline, may influence gender representation in such leadership positions. Based on role congruity theory and glass cliff theory this article empirically examines whether and how excessive workforce reductions are associated with changes in the representation of women in leadership positions in Dutch civil service organizations. Panel analyses on administrative data show that women's representation in leadership positions varies over time, but is not significantly affected by excessive workforce reductions. Overall, the analyses do not provide evidence for a glass cliff for women in Dutch civil service organizations. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.