Exploring the Causal Story: Gender, Active Representation, and Bureaucratic Priorities

Abstract

Using the theoretical framework posited by Keiser et al. (2002), researchers have found active representation for gender in several public organizations (Keiser et al. 2002; Nicholson-Crotty and Meier 2002; Wilkins and Keiser 2006). This article uses individual-level data to explore the causal story behind previous aggregate level findings that suggest that female child support enforcement supervisors provide active representation to female clients, who directly benefit from increased child support collections (Wilkins and Keiser 2006). This article tests whether female child support enforcement supervisors behave differently than their male counterparts. The findings suggest that female supervisors have different priorities and/or spend their time differently than their male counterparts, and these differences may lead to active representation. Using survey data, I examine the individual-level causal story behind the relationship between individuals and bureaucratic priorities.