NCJ Number
197199
Journal
Policing Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 181-199
Date Published
2001
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study was designed to identify the values that configure the British police culture and examine whether male and female officers manifested different or similar values.
Abstract
The British police force that participated in the study had, as have many other British police forces, a poor record of equal-opportunity employment. At the time of this research, it had received a reprimand from Her Majesty's Inspectorate regarding its poor retention rate for police women and their disproportionate lack of representation in the rank structure. It was also the subject of a high profile sex discrimination case. Repertory grid technique (Kelly, 1955; 1991) was the primary method used to investigate the performance values held by members of the police force. Repertory grid interviews were held individually with 51 police officers. To compare the views of males and females, researchers interviewed 14 male constables and 16 female constables. To compare the views of constables and supervisors, the study combined the interview data from the male and female constables (30 constables) and compared this with interview data from 21 supervisors (officers at the rank of sergeant and above). The findings indicate that supervisory rank, rather than gender, had the greatest influence on the content of officers' performance value judgments. Power relations, more than gender, apparently operate to produce and perpetuate sets of values within which certain practices, such as the subordination of home to work, are supported. Thus, culturally conditioned gender roles in society (women as the primary caretakers in the home) may conflict with supervisors' preference for officers for whom work has ultimate priority. 4 tables and 56 references