An Examination of the Workplace Experiences of Police Patrol Officers: The Role of Race, Sex, and Sexual Orientation

Abstract

Reform efforts in many police departments have diversified the workforce, especially with regard to race, sex, and sexual orientation. Research, however, has demonstrated that the assimilation of these officers has not been problem-free. Using data collected from a large, municipal police department, this article examines the workplace experiences of patrol officers and a potential consequence of those experiences: stress. We find that being female and being a racial/ethnic minority brings with it substantially different experiences on the job compared to male and White officers. Our findings also confirm previous research that workplace climate has an effect on workplace stress.

Strength in numbers? A test of Kanter's theory of tokenism

“…It is also not surprising that the female officers believed that there was more gender bias in the department than the male officers. Again, studies on the work place experiences of women have consistently produced the same finding (Hassell & Brandl, 2009;Morash & Haarr, 1995;National Research Council, 2004).…”

“…It is not surprising, nevertheless, that female officers perceived their physical stature to be an issue among their male counterparts. Studies have consistently found that women perceive themselves to be underestimated because of their physical size (Hassell & Brandl, 2009;Martin, 1979;Morash & Haarr, 1995). It is also not surprising that the female officers believed that there was more gender bias in the department than the male officers.…”

“…Mentoring programs, other than field training, where officers are partnered together, may offer an opportunity for not only additional on-the-job training but encourage personal interaction and collegiality among male and female officers (Hassell & Brandl, 2009;Hassell, Archbold, & Stichman, 2009). Additionally, partnering male and female officers in investigative units that are typically predominately male (e.g., SWAT, homicide) or female (e.g., school resource programs, juvenile units) may also provide opportunities for interaction, and consequently, acceptance of the similarities between the two regarding competency and actual ability to perform the job.…”

Gay men in the police: identity disclosure and management issues

“…With very few exceptions (Burke, 1993, 1994; Loftus, 2008), scholarship on LGB sexualities within police organisations is largely confined to the US (Leinen, 1993; Belkin and McNichol, 2002; Miller et al ., 2003; Myers et al ., 2004; Lyons et al ., 2008; Colvin, 2009; Hassell and Brandl, 2009). There is a general consensus among scholars that the employment of lesbians and gay men in the police represents a threat to the gendered characteristics of police work, with its emphasis on physical strength, aggression, authority and technical competence.…”

Race, Gender, and Tokenism in Policing

“…Just as men and women differ, so too might the experiences of racial/ethnic minorities. In other words, Black and Latino officers' experiences may not be uniform (see, for example, Hassell & Brandl, 2009). …”