Glass walls and glass ceilings: the case of public procurement

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.