From Poole, Eric and Mark Pogrebin, “Gender and occupational culture conflict: A study of Women Jail Officers”. What is the relationship between sex roles stereotypes and some of the on-the-job challenges faced by female corrections’ officers?
Introduction
In spite of the changes in penal ideologies and the constantly shifting discourse on punishment, the primary responsibility of correctional facilities remains the same: to control a difficult and dangerous offender population. As a result, the development of the role of correctional officers has been significantly influenced by gender roles. Women experiences in their capacity as correctional officers remain subject to work dynamics that are unique to male dominated occupations with most of the valued job skills including those related to strength, force and power. This has resulted in the persistence of sex role stereotypes which serve to limit women from executing their tasks within correctional facilities to the fullest. Sex role stereotypes held by stakeholders in correctional facilities contribute to numerous challenges faced by female correctional officers and impact negatively on their ability to execute their roles.
Relationship between sex role stereotypes and challenges faced by female correctional officers
Regardless of the uniqueness and the challenges prevalent in this work environment, the number of women seeking and being employed in correctional facilities continues to rise. According to Cheeseman (n d), female correctional officers play a particularly key role in the field of correction and are currently able to work at any level of correctional agency and department (1). Various reports provide insight on the current statistics for women in correctional facilities. By 1969, women officers accounted for 20% of the total correctional workforce (Cheeseman 1). Stephan (2008) indicated that the ratio of men to women employees was 2:1 among employees working in state and federal correctional facilities by the end of 2005 (Gover et al 207). Most recently, a report released by the American Correctional Association in Sep 2007 revealed that female correctional officers accounted for 37% of adult correct ions personnel, and 51% of the Juvenile correctional personnel (Cheeseman 1).
Introduction
In spite of the changes in penal ideologies and the constantly shifting discourse on punishment, the primary responsibility of correctional facilities remains the same: to control a difficult and dangerous offender population. As a result, the development of the role of correctional officers has been significantly influenced by gender roles. Women experiences in their capacity as correctional officers remain subject to work dynamics that are unique to male dominated occupations with most of the valued job skills including those related to strength, force and power. This has resulted in the persistence of sex role stereotypes which serve to limit women from executing their tasks within correctional facilities to the fullest. Sex role stereotypes held by stakeholders in correctional facilities contribute to numerous challenges faced by female correctional officers and impact negatively on their ability to execute their roles.
Relationship between sex role stereotypes and challenges faced by female correctional officers
Regardless of the uniqueness and the challenges prevalent in this work environment, the number of women seeking and being employed in correctional facilities continues to rise. According to Cheeseman (n d), female correctional officers play a particularly key role in the field of correction and are currently able to work at any level of correctional agency and department (1). Various reports provide insight on the current statistics for women in correctional facilities. By 1969, women officers accounted for 20% of the total correctional workforce (Cheeseman 1). Stephan (2008) indicated that the ratio of men to women employees was 2:1 among employees working in state and federal correctional facilities by the end of 2005 (Gover et al 207). Most recently, a report released by the American Correctional Association in Sep 2007 revealed that female correctional officers accounted for 37% of adult correct ions personnel, and 51% of the Juvenile correctional personnel (Cheeseman 1).
