The police force is an integral part of modern society and its enforcement of laws. It is important to have female officers reflect on the unique problems women face in society, such as domestic violence. However, because of police culture that widely dismisses misogyny toward women in poling, female officers often experience unnecessary stress in their job, feel unappreciated or discriminated against, and fall victim to gender stereotypes. This essay aims to answer the question of whether it is possible to challenge and eliminate sexism and misogyny in policing.
Women in Policing: Historical Context
Historically, women did not have much legal, social, or economic power in society. They were financially dependent on men in their immediate family – their husbands, fathers, and brothers – and were barred from entering certain professions (Cunningham, 2021). Women were generally not allowed to serve in the police force or any sort of physically demanding job in most of the Western world before the twentieth century. Many contemporary male thinkers and philosophers believed that it was the nature of a woman to be protected, sheltered, and shielded rather than to protect. Women could not lead any institution as it was seen as unfit for them; their only responsibility was to submit and nurture.
However, with the emergence of women’s suffrage, barriers for women started to crumble. Women gained the right to vote and participate in professions other than those they were restricted to, such as nursing and teaching. Allowing women to enter male-dominated spheres means they could increase their number in socially important careers and gain more power in society by becoming less dependent on men. Moreover, increasing the number of female police officers reduce the risk of performance issues and loneliness. Law enforcement and leadership positions became available avenues for women. In England, police forces only started accepting female officers in 1949 (Cunningham and Ramshaw, 2020). Australia had seen women enter the police force in 1915 (Goldsworthy, 2019). However, despite the change of public opinion on women’s rights, the police force still operates on this notion of a woman’s nature, which is why discrimination in the workplace is still prevalent.
Cross-country Analysis of Police
The struggle of women’s fight for equality in the police force heavily depends on the country’s cultural context. Female police officers in Canada are reported to be at higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing higher levels of pressure to perform, and suffering from communication issues with colleagues (Angehrn et al., 2021). A study in Kenya concluded that “family commitments, an emphasis on physical strength for promotion, performance based on male standards, and male supervisors’ attitudes present challenges for women in policing” (Onyango and Natarajan, 2021). Female officers would be “prohibited from attending serious incidents of riot and unrest while male colleagues would go to the front-line, leaving female officers to manage policing tasks at the station” (Cunningham and Ramshaw, 2020, p. 34). Women may feel their supervisors underestimate their abilities by segregating more important crimes to male officers.
The field of policing is heavily gendered, which implies that women have to meet the physical standards for males to compete with them for a higher position of power. The inability to reach those standards often results in less representation of women in higher-up positions in police forces, meaning most female officers have male bosses and supervisors. The situation opens up disparaging opportunities for abuse and discriminatory comments. Being considered the weaker sex, women face micro-aggressions in the workplace, such as objectifying and sexualized comments, unwanted advances, and harassment. Moreover, police culture can facilitate sexual abuse and violence toward female officers, causing psychological trauma.
It is a prevalent issue in the police force because of police culture. According to Angehrn et al. (2021), “police culture refers to the core belief system, norms, behaviors, and attitudes involved in policing” (p. 2). Core values of such a culture include traditionalism, masculinity, isolation, and a focus on work. An environment created by police culture is likely to cause emotional dysregulation, poor mental health, and loneliness. It is very difficult for female officers to form meaningful connections in the workplace, making them vulnerable to developing long-lasting mental disorders.
Value to Society
Policing plays an important role in the functioning of society because it enforces laws for the safety and well-being of most of its members. Female officers better handle certain issues, such as domestic abuse and sexual assault allegations. According to Schuck (2018), a higher number of women in the police force results in a better clearance rate of rape cases. Women can often handle victims of domestic violence with more care and consideration than men. For these reasons, it is important to facilitate a comfortable environment for women in policing to improve their performance and service to society.
A Possible Solution
To combat the issue of sexism and misogyny in policing, it is necessary to change the dominating masculine police culture. Such changes come about from the officers and supervisors of the police force to change their attitudes toward their female colleagues and acknowledge their importance. Investigating incidents of sexual abuse inside the police force would ensure that female officers can report and prosecute their harassers. Educating all officers on misogyny and micro-aggressions will make male officers are aware of the discrimination faced by women in the workforce and take action to prevent it. Representation also matters because women could be more comfortable in the workplace.
Conclusion
To conclude, women in the police force suffer from gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment. Such discrimination includes disparaging comments, communication issues, and devaluation of their abilities that can potentially affect their mental health in very profound ways. The cause of these unique issues is the masculine police culture enforced upon them. A solution to solving sexism and misogyny in policing is increasing the number of female police officers and educating on gender bias. It is necessary to challenge the notion that women are worse at their job than men.
References
Angehrn, A., Fletcher, A. J., & Carleton, R. N. (2021). “Suck it up, Buttercup”: Understanding and overcoming gender disparities in policing.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14).
Cunningham, E., & Ramshaw, P. (2020). Twenty-three women officers’ experiences of policing in England: The same old story or a different story?International Journal of Police Science & Management, 22(1), 26-37.
Cunningham, E. (2021). Women in policing: Feminist perspectives on theory and practice. Routledge.
Goldsworthy, T. (2019). Women have made many inroads in policing, but barriers remain to achieving gender equity. The Conversation.
Onyango, R. A., & Natarajan, M. (2022). Gender equity approach to policing in Kenya: Lessons, challenges and prospects.International Journal of Police Science & Management, 24(2), 147-161.
Schuck, A. M. (2018). Women in policing and the response to rape: Representative bureaucracy and organizational change.Feminist Criminology, 13(3), 237-259.