I Took the Blue Pill The Effect of the Hegemonic Masculine Police Culture on Canadian Policewomen\u27s Identities

There are varied opinions as to whether the subculture of policing continues to reproduce traditional gender roles and stereotypes in order to maintain male dominance, leaving policewomen at a distinct disadvantage. In an effort to understand this phenomenon from policewomen’s own experiences, this study utilized qualitative in-depth interviews with 15 policewomen from varied police forces in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The role of police culture and hegemonic masculinity is explored in relation to the identity formation of policewomen both on and off-duty. Drawing on the work of Dorothy Smith (1987), the findings reveal that policewomen have a bifurcated consciousness, dividing the world as they actually experience it from the hegemonic masculine view they adopt as officers. Since the latter viewpoint strongly devalues the former, women are frequently conflicted, and at times at war with themselves and each other. The results confirm that the hegemonic masculine values perpetuated by the institution of policing influences the way policewomen see themselves, the world, and each other

“It\u27s all window dressing:” Canadian police officers\u27 perceptions of mental health stigma in their workplace

Purpose: This study will provide a preliminary, general overview of Canadian police officers’ perception of stigma toward mental illness in their workplace culture and its impacts. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a mixed methods approach with two nationwide datasets: a self-report survey (N=727) and 116 semi-structured interviews with police officers from 31 police services. Results are grounded in theories of stigma, masculinities, and organizational culture. Findings: Results indicate that most officers believe stigma toward mental illness in their workplace remains, despite senior management messaging and program implementation. Reporting mental illness was often seen as high risk, both personally and professionally. Policewomen, constables, and those on leave reported statistically significant higher levels of perceived stigma and risk. Features of traditional masculinity were commonly reported, influencing the way individuals viewed themselves (self-stigma) and organizational response (structural stigma). Those with lived experience reported the highest levels of self and structural stigmatization, which often negatively impacted their recovery. Originality/value This study strengthens our understanding of how organizational culture and structure combine to contribute to the persistent presence of stigma in some Canadian police services (with implications for male-dominated occupations generally). Gender, rank, years of service and lived experience are additional areas of limited scholarship addressed by this study. The findings have important implications for effective program and policy evaluation and development

From Hero to Zero: Policing the Police in Canada- How the Current Culture of Hero Worship Perpetuates Corruption and Dysfunction Within the Canadian Criminal Justice System

This essay examines the systemic structural problems inherent within the policing system of Canada and the pervasive inequality and corruption that it perpetuates. Variables of public perception, along with police deviance and culture are examined to highlight the structural deficiencies and their prevention of social equality within the Canadian criminal justice system. This essay examines the concept of hero worship as a factor in the Canadian public’s acceptance of police corruption and deviance, along with Robert Merton’s strain theory to show the limited categories available for police officer identity under the current system. Finally, possible solutions to the closed subculture of police power and corruption are offered for future policy considerations

“When They Hand You Your Uniform, They Forget to Say, ‘Hand Me Your Soul’”: Incidents and Impacts of Institutional Betrayal in Canadian Police Services

This interdisciplinary study applies Erving Goffman’s sociological theory of the total institution and the psychological framework of institutional betrayal to better understand how ongoing gendered and racialized power structures are maintained in Canadian policing. An intersectional analysis of 116 in-depth interviews with police officers from 31 police services and an on-line, national survey (N = 727) reveal that steep institutional requirements of assimilation and conformity, combined with various, commonly reported mechanisms of institutional betrayal effectively silenced, discredited, and/or minimized reports of sexual and gender and/or race-based workplace abuse. This led to significantly negative impacts on racialized women, men, and white women’s mental health, retention rates, and willingness to report workplace abuse. Overall, this study found the ongoing presence of systemic racism and sexism within police services across Canada, institutional knowledge of their existence, coordinated efforts to contain complaints, and ongoing resistance to meaningful change

“Act Surprised, Show Concern, Deny, Deny, Deny:” An Intersectional Analysis of Police Culture, Institutional Betrayal, and Upholding the Status Quo in Canadian Policing

Police officers in Canada continue to publicly expose toxic work environments, misogyny, racism, criminal acts such as sexual assault, stigmatized mental illness, cover ups, and retribution for those who come forward. Marginalized members of the public report similar experiences in their interactions with the police, indicating a connection between the internal workplace environment and public service. Canadian police leaders, their affiliates, and government bodies are aware of the systemic issues present in the institution. Yet, little has changed in a meaningful way. In light of these challenges and lack of change, a framework to better understand the mechanisms, scope, and impact of marginalization processes in the institution is needed. This framework must capture how the institution’s historical legacy of white supremacist patriarchy operates currently to support the dominance of white, cisgender, heterosexual men. This study asks why there has been limited progress (and for whom), how the institutional status quo is maintained, and the impacts at individual, group, and institutional levels. To address these questions, this exploratory study analyses data from 116 interviews from 31 police services across Canada and a national, on-line, self-report survey with 727 participants. An inter-disciplinary approach using theoretical frameworks from sociology, psychology, intersectional feminism, and organizational theory with concepts from critical race theory and masculinity theory offer new theoretical contributions to the body of work on police culture. Overall, this study finds hypermasculinity, whiteness, assimilation and conformity, and a resistance to change remain at significant levels in police services across Canada. The institution remains a gendered and racialized organization, which negatively impacts the personal and professional lives of those who do not “fit.” Strong evidence of assimilation and conformity expectations were found, including varying acts of retribution for those who deviated. As a result, a culture of fear and silence was prominent for most officers regardless of gender, ethno-racial identity, rank, and their intersections. This led to significant reluctance to report mental illness and internal misconduct such as harassment and discrimination. A deeper understanding of why and how the status quo remains is the first step in dismantling the power structures that uphold it

Taking the Temperature: An Intersectional Examination of Diversity Acceptance in Canadian Police Services

This exploratory study analyses data from in-depth interviews (116 from 31 police services across Canada) and an online survey (N = 727) to examine how gender and racial ideologies inform ongoing cultural and structural adherence to hegemonic whiteness and masculinity, impacting who has power (and who does not) within the institution of policing. White, cisgender, heterosexual men were the most likely to present views consistent with white supremacist patriarchy. Their ongoing cultural, structural, and material power created gatekeeping conditions that are at least part of the explanation for barriers to the recruitment and promotion of racialized women, men, and white women. Findings also reveal that a significant proportion of white women and some racialized men also upheld these ideologies, indicating cultural-level buy-in. There were disrupters who attempted to influence cultural and structural change, but barriers and resistance at leadership levels remain. Thus, this study adds to the growing body of evidence that diversity representation alone has not, and will not, transform the institution in a timely and meaningful way