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‘There Oughtta Be a Law Against Bitches’: Masculinity Lessons in Police Academy Training
Author(s) -
Prokos Anastasia,
Padavic Irene
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
gender, work and organization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.159
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1468-0432
pISSN - 0968-6673
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0432.00168
Subject(s) - masculinity , hegemonic masculinity , socialization , subtext , law enforcement , gender studies , representation (politics) , psychology , sociology , law , political science , social psychology , politics , art , literature
This article draws on participant observation in a law enforcement academy to demonstrate how a hidden curriculum encourages aspects of hegemonic masculinity among recruits. Academy training teaches female and male recruits that masculinity is an essential requirement for the practice of policing and that women do not belong. By watching and learning from instructors and each other, male students developed a form of masculinity that (1) excluded women students and exaggerated differences between them and men; and (2) denigrated women in general. Thus, the masculinity that is characteristic of police forces and is partly responsible for women’s low representation on them is not produced exclusively on the job, but is taught in police academies as a subtext of professional socialization.