April 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 68

" Get
involved in a
professional
organization
so you have
a support
network. "

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Data collected in March 2010
All professional NRPA members
who identified as female were invited to participate
A response rate of 33% (N = 1,218)
was received
Survey questions included the categories of current position, career patterns, career satisfaction, work/life/
family balance, gender equity, and
open-ended questions related to current challenges, future challenges, and
advice to women entering the field
Average age of respondents= 45 years
92% white, 3% African American,
3% Latino

managers if given an opportunity.
" The perception of some males is
that female gender is the weaker sex in
terms of management skills, " a 58-yearold recreation supervisor says. " ... Men
are superior thinkers and problem solvers. [They] do not want to have me lead
meetings. If I sit amongst everyone in the
meeting and try to engage everyone in
discussion, and if I give them the information/tools to do their jobs effectively, I
found them more receptive to my ideas. "
Recognizing that problems continue
to exist not only in parks and
recreation but in society is
often unsettling. However, ignoring these concerns will not make
them go away. (As uncomfortable as it may
be to confront these
issues, it is a necessary first step
towa rd positive
change.

66 Parks & Recreation

Apr i l 2 0 1 1

www.NRPA .ORG

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93% had a baccalaureate degree or
higher
23% single, 57% married, 10% living with partner, 10% divorced/
widowed
About 2/3 contributed half or more
to the household income
Over half made $60,000 or more as
yearly salary
Average number of years in current
job: 9.5 years, Range: 1-44 years
Level in Organization: Entry: 7%,
Supervisory/Mid-management:
39%, Senior Management: 48%,
Educator: 6%

Recommendations
Based on this study, women in parks and
recreation have found ways to make their
careers meaningful. The set of recommendations comes from the words of the
women themselves.
■■ Having the support of others is important.
" Building relationships is a strong asset
for many women and learning that valuable skill [managing people] has helped
me forge relationships that have helped
me advance my career and my agency, " a
52-year-old director of parks and recreation offers. A community service director
with 16 years of experience recommends,
" Get involved in a professional organization so you have a support network. "
■■ Finding a mentor or mentors is important
even if they are outside the field. Having
role models is also necessary. " Being a
minority in the field ... [I had] very few
role models to follow. Now that I am in a
leadership role I attempt to mentor others and I have mentors from all different
backgrounds to support me during my
career, " an assistant director explains.
■■ Advocating for oneself is necessary.
People, including managers, are often
absorbed in their own responsibilities.
" I've become more mindful to speak up in
meetings and to do 'pop ins' with people
higher on the chain so they know me better, " shares a 40-year-old support technician. A program specialist says she went
to her Human Resources Department and

April 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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