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Методологические особенности изучения гендерных норм, практик и процессов в публичном управлении
This article examines the methodological specificities of research on gender norms and practices in Russian public authorities. Such norms and practices are of interest, as public service is characterized by a marked vertical gender segregation. That is, while women make up the majority of public service employees, they are under-represented in decision-making positions. However, classical public administration theories limit researchers in comprehending this phenomenon since public service agencies are considered bureaucratic organizations founded on principles of rationality and pragmatism. In this article, based on the American researcher Joan Acker's theoretical ideas, public agencies are conceptualized as "gendered organizations." Although many researchers note the analytical potential of Acker's theory for the examination of gendered processes in public administration organizations, existing empirical studies rarely present a detailed operationalization of this theory's significant components. The article fills this theoretical and methodological gap by providing a detailed operationalization of the five components of Acker's theory. It draws on the authors’ experience of collecting data among Russian public servants, both in Moscow and regional cities. Therefore, the article provides researchers with a detailed operationalization of the theory of gendered organizations and recommendations for how to apply it in future research.