Cross-Gender Perceptions of Corrections Officers in Gender-Segregated Prisons

Carlson, Joseph R.; Thomas, George; Anson, Richard H.

doi:10.1300/j076v39n01_05

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Women have worked as correctional officers at female institutions for years, but it was not until the 1970s, following a series of federal acts and commission recommendations, 7 that the glass wall came down, and they gained access to custody and security positions in men’s prisons (Dial, Downey, & Goodlin, 2010; Lawrence & Mahan, 1998). Administrators and male staff members at male institutions strongly opposed allowing women into their ranks, arguing that they were physically vulnerable, and that their presence would put them and their male coworkers at risk (Carlson, Thomas, & Anson, 2004; Tewksbury & Collins, 2006). Opposition was also rooted in inmate privacy concerns (e.g., shower, toilet, and dressing areas, pat searches).…”

Section: Correctionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patriarchy and the Structure of Employment in Criminal Justice: Differences in the Experiences of Men and Women Working in the Legal Profession, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

Batton

Wright

2018

Feminist Criminology

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Feminist scholars have long argued that patriarchy affects the structure and organization of society as well as the lived experiences of men and women. Although often referenced in discussions of gender differences in crime and justice, few have articulated more specifically the link between patriarchy and gender differences in the experiences of men and women as victims, offenders, or workers. We take up the challenge to theorize patriarchy and examine the extent to which it operates as an organizing principle with regard to employment in the criminal justice system. We consider differences in the representation of men and women working in the legal profession, corrections, and law enforcement, as well as the culture and structure of these workplace environments in the United States. We argue that patriarchy is a useful midlevel theoretical concept that helps explain both quantitative and qualitative gender differences in criminal justice work. This study complements the "doing gender" approach by focusing on gender at the institutional level, and describing how the culture and structure of the criminal justice system shape and constrain the experiences of individuals occupying social roles within it.

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Section: Correctionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patriarchy and the Structure of Employment in Criminal Justice: Differences in the Experiences of Men and Women Working in the Legal Profession, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

Batton

Wright

2018

Feminist Criminology

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“…Other studies have found that male staff is more likely than female staff to accept women in corrections positions. In a study of corrections staff in the Midwest, previous concerns about women working in corrections (i.e., lack of physical strength, incompetence) were no longer prevalent (Carlson et al, 2004). The acceptance of women in corrections was actually reported higher by male corrections officers (COs) than by women COs, and women COs were more likely to perceive males as better supervisors.…”

Section: Tokenism and Women In Correctionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

A Token for Your Thoughts? Perceptions of Tokenism Among Female Corrections Executives

Collica-Cox

Schulz

2020

Criminal Justice Review

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The increasing number of women corrections executives indicates improvement in their opportunities for career advancement. This article examines the perceptions of women in corrections supervisory and management ranks regarding their opportunities for continuing upward mobility, whether they or their peers view them as tokens and whether those views may impact their decisions to pursue promotion up to and including wardens or corrections administrators. Based on surveys and interviews with members of the Association of Women Executives in Corrections, this study found that most women felt promotional opportunities were equally available for men and women. The women did not report feeling the isolation associated with tokenism, but they did report feeling high levels of visibility. Despite facing aspects of tokenism, they were not deterred from seeking advancement, and they noted that each subsequent promotion after the first one presented fewer problems for them and for their organizations.

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“…Interestingly, one investigation showed that women officers rated themselves less favorably than men rated women in their ability to supervise and counsel inmates (Carlson et al, 2004).…”

Section: Modern Female Corrections Officersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Of All the Joints, She Walks Into This One: Career Motivations of Women Corrections Executives

Collica-Cox

Schulz

2018

The Prison Journal

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While the number of female corrections executives is small, there is evidence that those moving up the ranks in this highly male-dominated field continue to grow. The present study, conducted with support from the Association of Women Executives in Corrections (AWEC), found that 18% of state corrections agencies were led by women. While women corrections executives' motivations for entering the field were diverse, they centered primarily on pay and benefits. Notably, most women executives entered the corrections field unexpectedly and found they had an instant attraction to the work and did not regret their decision to stay.

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Cross-Gender Perceptions of Corrections Officers in Gender-Segregated Prisons

Cited by 18 publications

References 14 publications

Patriarchy and the Structure of Employment in Criminal Justice: Differences in the Experiences of Men and Women Working in the Legal Profession, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

Patriarchy and the Structure of Employment in Criminal Justice: Differences in the Experiences of Men and Women Working in the Legal Profession, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

A Token for Your Thoughts? Perceptions of Tokenism Among Female Corrections Executives

Of All the Joints, She Walks Into This One: Career Motivations of Women Corrections Executives

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