Contact and control: Engagement and influence among women of color state agency heads

Abstract While scholarship is delving into the representation of women and people of color within the U.S. bureaucracy, less is known about these individuals' discretion within their roles. Using an intersectionality framework, this article explores the experiences of women of color in leadership roles within state government agencies, their communication with elected superiors, and perceptions of their own policy discretion and communication compared with White men and women, and men of color. Leveraging the American State Administrators Project, we find that women of color have less communication with elected officials and their staff but also perceive that they have less discretionary control over their departments. This article highlights that while women of color are increasing in leadership roles within state bureaucracies, disparities exist between women of color and their colleagues. We call attention to the disproportionate levels of oversight and discretion perceived by women of color.