LATINA MANAGERS IN PUBLIC-EMPLOYMENT - PERCEPTIONS OF ORGANIZATIONAL DISCRIMINATION

Despite the well-documented conclusions and recommendations for change of previous studies on organizational discrimination against Latinos, only minimal employee activism or governmental reform has resulted. A multipurpose survey of Latina local government managers examines perc eptions by Latina managers of factors contributing to organizational d iscrimination. Comparisons to conclusions from secondary-source resear ch found that Latina managers intellectually concur with secondary-sou rce research findings, but such agreements did not predict Latinas' ch oices for activism and related strategies for reform. An analysis of a genda-action items selected by Latina managers presents conflicts betw een their perceptions of what can be changed and organizational second ary-source research implications. The survey revealed concerns with pe rsonal and group relational factors, which were ranked as more importa nt than influencing institutional and organizational improvements. The se findings provide support for research complementarity and they info rm possible directions for research on Hispanic issues and strategies of Hispanic change agents.