Mainstreaming gender in the police: The Maharashtra experience

Abstract

This paper offers an insight into the creative ways in w hich a major social institution in one of the most progressive states in India has attempted to take gender issues on board. The M aharashtra Police Force has taken a major step towards empowering wom en by opening all mainstream duties to them as from 1994 . The paper records the process through w hich the Force has taken this up as part of a larger agenda to tackle the issues of violence against w om en, and may serve as an exam ple for similar organizations and students of gender issues.

Sexual Harassment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Systematic Review

“…there is only one legitimate feeling after such incidents – shame; and there is only one legitimate reaction – walking away in silence” ( Chubin, 2014 , p. 177). On the community level, common barriers included victim-blaming attitudes, general lack of awareness of policies and guidelines, a lack of trustworthy support, criticism when one fights back, organizational barriers such as company culture, and a lack of legal protections ( Adams et al, 2019 ; Ali & Kramar, 2015 ; Chakravarty, 1998 ; Chubin, 2014 ; Eller, 2016 ; Morley, 2011 ; Nahar et al, 2013 ; Naveed et al, 2010 ; Sychareun et al, 2016 ; Worke et al, 2021 ).…”

Impact of Demographic Characteristics of Crime Victim on Interaction with Police in India—Gender, Caste, Class and Police Response

“…Natarajan (2006) argues that women victims in India are hesitant to talk to male police officers about their private problems because they do not believe that male officers will be sympathetic, officers do not understand women's psychology and they fear that male officers will take sexual advantage of them. There have been efforts to address these problems by enlisting more women into the police, with the hope that greater female presence in police stations would encourage women to come forward to report crimes freely (Chakravarty 1998).…”