In 2005 it was reported that women make up 23% of Correctional Officers in the United States. Even though women make up a small percentage of correctional officers in the United States ( not to mention around the world), they have recently been growing in numbers like never before. According to L. Mayes & R. Ruddell (2008),Women correctional officers are more commonly found in exclusively women’s prisons (almost half of employees). Even though there are considerable amounts of women working in male prisons as well. The number of women employed in corrections in 2000, was 141,727 which was a 41% increase from 1995. (p.180)
Throughout history, the American Criminal Justice System was generally male dominated. From ”criminal law codified by male legislators, enforced by male police officers, and interpreted my male judges”. Crimes were generally committed my males, and so by and large studies in criminology and theories on crime focused on males in a “by men for men” explanation. According to J. Holland(2008) in the article,” The Feminization of the Community Corrections Workforce” even though women have worked in the area of corrections since the 1900’s, they were not actually able to work in male institutions till the 1970’s. “In 1969, the Joint Commission of Correctional Manpower and Training reported that although women made up 40% of the general workforce, they accounted for only 12% of the correctional workforce". By 1990 the number of women in the correctional workforce had increased to 43%, with probation and parole agencies reporting the greatest rate of increase” According to the National Institute of Corrections, “women have been the “outsiders” in a traditionally male dominated field of corrections, where both the clientele and co-workers are predominately male.
Our society has for so many years seemingly predetermined a woman’s place in the workplace. A woman’s occupational choice should not be based on her external qualities. I feel that for way too long women have been judged, and criticized for making their own choices independently from a male. When I tell people I want to become a correctional officer, the responses I get regardless of the individual can make someone doubtful if they weren’t as set as myself on becoming an correctional officer. The comments I get from both men, and women drive me crazy, ”You are a pretty girl, why did you want to get involved in a career like that?” ,“You do know that you are going to get hit on”, or “You think that YOU could actually bring a huge inmate down?!”. It is true for the most part that physically, a typical woman does not have equal strength to that of a man, however women and men differ in what they can bring to a correctional setting. Women can offer a more holistic approach to dealing with inmates which a male officer would typically would not use. A correctional officer's worth in the field should not be based on gender but on what he or she can bring to the table.Basically,to effectively take on the requirements and duties of the job title.
In addition, to dealing with the bias perceptions of females (in a historically male dominated career choice), women also deal with negativity from other women working in corrections. According to the study, “Surrendering Solidarity” Considering the Relationships of Female Officers, women correctional officers were asked of their perceptions on fellow female correctional officers. Before even attempting to read the study, one would think that just because women were being interviewed on their perceptions of other women, they would be pro women, and have “woman power” type of vibe. However, the results proved to be the exact opposite. There were several negative labels: “The Weak/Incapable Officer”, “The Flirty/Sexual Officer”, “The Resistant Female Officer”, “The Overly Friendly with inmates Officer”, and the “Gossip Officer”. Taking two of these negative labels; the “weak/incapable officer” was describes as being overly emotional, easily taken advantage of by inmates, not physically strong enough to control inmates, and naïve. In addition the “weak/capable” officer was viewed as not being mentally unprepared for a job in corrections as an officer and overly feminine.
When I briefly talked to a female correctional officer at California State Prison, Solano she told me she does her nails, and makeup and doesn’t think twice about doing so. Just because I am feminine does not mean I am not not capable of doing my job” was her direct response to be question of being femine in the prison.The other negative label I will point out was the “flirty/sexual” officer, who as a result of these negative labels , where these officers seemed more interested in getting dates male officers or getting compliments for the inmates. This label I see as something that could definitely get in the way of doing your job effectively. I hear so many stories from people employed in the prisons where female officers are getting involved with male inmates or in love triangles with other officers. One would think that just because of the extensive backgrounds checks that prospective correctional officers have to go through does not always detect morality and self control. So as a result of these bad labels, these women officers are viewing each other in a negative light. To make matters worse these women correctional officers have a hard time gaining respect from male co workers, as well as getting male inmates to respect their authority.
Women have definitely made progress in the field of corrections in the past forty years. Women have transitioned to positions such as correctional officers , correctional counselors, and administrators where they have direct contact with male inmates. This differs from the past , where women only worked in clerical positions and jobs that didn’t require contact with inmates. However, like with any change there is a process. With the progress women have made over the years, they had to overcome gender biases,and similar struggles. However I feel there will continue to be progress for women working as correctional officers in the many years to come.
Sources:
Jo G. Holland (August, .L
2008) “The Feminization of the Community Corrections Workforce” Corrections Today 70,4; Criminal Justice Periodicals pg.44
Rader, Nicole E. (2007)”Surrendering Solidarity” Considering the Relationships of Female Officers, Women & Criminal Justice, 16:3 27-42
G. Larry Mays & Rick Ruddell (2008) Making Sense of Criminal Justice
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