scholarly journals “Suck It Up, Buttercup”: Understanding and Overcoming Gender Disparities in Policing

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7627
Author(s):  
Andréanne Angehrn ◽  
Amber J. Fletcher ◽  
R. Nicholas Carleton
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
Police Culture ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Police Services ◽  
Women Police ◽  
Thematic Network Analysis

Women police officers report elevated symptoms of mental disorders when compared to men police officers. Researchers have indicated that the occupational experience of policing differs greatly among men and women. Indeed, police culture is characterized by hegemonic masculinity, which appears to negatively impact both men and women. The current study examined the contrast between the experiences of men and women police officers. Police officers (n = 17; 9 women) in Saskatchewan participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic network analysis identified themes related to the experience of policing for both men and women police officers. There were six organizing themes identified in relation to the global theme of Gendered Experiences: (1) Discrimination; (2) Sexual Harassment; (3) Motherhood and Parental Leave; (4) Identity; (5) Stereotypically Feminine Attributes; and (6) Hegemonic Masculinity. Pervasive gender norms appear detrimental for both men and women police officers, as well as the communities they serve. The current results, coupled with the emerging disposition for progress expressed by police services, offer opportunities to develop tailored and focused interventions and policies to support police officers.

Police officers killed on duty: Comparing the influence of social investment on line of duty deaths of men and women officers in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 284-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C Gibbs ◽  
Emily Priesman ◽  
James Ruiz ◽  
Amy Mills
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Accidental Death ◽  
Social Investment ◽  
Women Officers ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Women Police ◽  
The Usa ◽  
On Line

In a unique exploration of line of duty police deaths, Kachurik and colleagues found that police officers in the USA with greater social investment (i.e., officers who were married and had children) were less likely than single officers to be feloniously killed (compared with accidental death) in the line of duty (Kachurik S, Ruiz J and Staub M [2013] Police officers killed on duty: a different view. International Journal of Police Science & Management 15: 114–124). This was confirmed by Gibbs et al. (2014) studying deaths of Baltimore Police Department officers, finding marriage, but not the number of children an officer had, was negatively associated with officer homicide (Gibbs JC, Ruiz J and Klapper-Lehman SA [2014] Police officers killed on duty: replicating and extending a unique look at officer deaths. International Journal of Police Science & Management 16: 277–287). Because marriage and children may have varying effects on each sex, this study explores the relationship between social investment and police officer deaths in the line of duty, comparing men and women officers. With a sample of 4840 men and 207 women police officers in the USA who died in the line of duty between 1980 and 2014, logistic regression confirmed the link between social investment and manner of death—although this relationship presented differently for men and women officers. Specifically, children, but not marriage, significantly influenced the death of women police officers; those who were married at the time of their death were less likely to be killed in the line of duty (compared with accidental death) than unmarried officers, but the number of children had no effect on line of duty deaths for women officers. Marriage had no effect on line of duty deaths for men, although having children increased the odds of a felonious death—which is inconsistent with prior studies. Implications are discussed.

Mainstream Superhero Comics and Gendered Representations of Social Control

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope Hutchins
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Graphic Novels ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Media Constructions ◽  
Women Police

In the context of increasing familiarity with mainstream superhero comics and their characters, a wide range of readers are being exposed to the values regarding gender and social control being communicated in this genre. Therefore, it is important to assess whether social control is signified differently for males and females in superhero comics. This presentation will begin with a discussion of why it is important to study comics and graphic novels. I will then outline the concept of social control and criminological theories centered on this idea before demonstrating why superheroes may be understood as agents of social control. This will bring me to a discussion of preliminary findings of a qualitative content analysis of issues of Batman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Ms Marvel, Justice League of America, and New Avengers comics released from May to October 2007. In examining the leadership positions, the formal and informal methods employed, those over whom social control is exercised, and relative success of each superhero in these issues, I am seeking to assess whether social control is portrayed as being exercised by male and female superheroes in different ways and to identify how this happens. The results of this content analysis will be compared with previous studies of women police officers to assess whether representations of female agents of social control in superhero comics are consistent with the experiences of real‐life criminal justice practitioners. Finally, the reasons for and implications of the nature of such media constructions will be briefly explored to encourage other students to study comics and graphic novels.

Occupation-Specific Precursors of Stress among Greek Police Officers: The Roles of Rank and Gender

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander-Stamatios Antoniou
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Low Rank ◽  
Context Specificity ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Women Police ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Context Specific

Although assessment of stress is typically performed using generic stress questionnaires, the context-specificity and generalisability of such assessments are often ignored. This study explored the differences in perceptions of work-related stressors in male/female and high/low rank police officers in Greece, by the application of a context-specific measure. 512 police officers representing the Hellenic police force responded to a questionnaire assessing precursors to work stress, and perceived level of stress. Results revealed that the nature of occupational stressors pertinent to Greek police officers differed as a function of their gender and their rank. Males and females differed in their perceptions of stressfulness of the context-specific issues assessed, with females reporting significantly higher stress in 21 work and organisational issues. High and low rank police officers also differed in their perceptions of stressfulness, with high rank police officers reporting more stress overall. The study highlighted the facts that work issues pertaining to female police officers' work and work issues pertaining to high and low rank police officers are of a specific nature. Women police officers are concerned more with issues related to career opportunities, roles and responsibility, and work–family issues. Risk assessment and stress management interventions should take these into consideration. Context-specificity is a good way forward in assessments of stress, and measures may need to be refined.

Women Police Officers and the Use of Coercion

2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 97-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene A. Paoline ◽  
William Terrill
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Women Police

Changing the perception of police culture: recognising masculinity diversity and difference in a “dirty hands” vocation

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Michael Kennedy ◽  
Philip Birch
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Police Culture ◽  
Dirty Hands ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Police Practice ◽  
The Media ◽  
Biased Perception

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to problematise the application of hegemonic masculinity to police practice and culture. Design/methodology/approach This paper offers a viewpoint and is a discussion paper critiquing the application of hegemonic masculinity to police officers, their practice and culture. Findings The paper suggests that a broader conceptualisation of masculinity, offered by scholars such as Demetriou (2001), is required when considering policing and its culture, in order to more accurately reflect the activity and those involved in it. Research limitations/implications Writings concerning police practice and culture, both in the media and academic discourse, are questionable due to the application of hegemonic masculinity. The application of hegemonic masculinity can create a biased perception of policing and police officers. Practical implications The paper helps to engender a more accurate and balanced examination of the police, their culture and practice when writing about policing institutions and encourage social institutions such as academia to address bias in their examination of policing institutions and police officers. Originality/value There has been limited consideration in regards to multiple masculinities, police practice and culture.

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