NCJ Number
189271
Journal
International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: Autumn 2000 Pages: 68-87
Date Published
2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study investigates the triple discriminatory effect of racism and sexism that female police officers from ethnic minorities encounter.
Abstract
A small-scale study was conducted in three police forces in England and Wales. Interviews with Black and Asian female police officers, white female police officers, and Black and Asian male police officers were given. There was enough evidence to suggest that black and Asian women officers were more likely to be affected by harassment and discrimination compared to their white women counterparts. Also, they were more likely to suffer sexual harassment that was inextricably tied to experiences of racial discrimination. Finally, they suffered a greater range and severity of harassment and discrimination. In other words, Black and Asian women officers were subject to “triple jeopardy.” They suffer from direct and structural racism to the same extent as black and Asian male officers; direct and structural sexism to the same extent as white women officers; and, uniquely, sexual or gendered racism of both structural and direct natures. There is a clear need to improve the United Kingdom anti-discrimination legislation as a whole. Workplace policies are not structured to address effectively the issue of sexual harassment and discrimination against women of color and organizations must establish policy that explicitly acknowledges the link between sexual and racial harassment when the victim is a woman of color. There is a clear link between supervisors’ stereotypical thinking and poor career progression for women from minority ethnic groups, which needs to be addressed in the short term. It is clear that these issues must be considered in the context of the future of policing as a whole. 3 tables, 12 references, and 102 references.