Redefining courage: How police supervisors can disrupt masculinity contests

• In Event: Police culture revisited: The implications for voice, silence, and other harmful outcomes

Abstract

The emphasis on traditional forms of masculinity (e.g., dominance, aggression) continues to be an enduring aspect of police culture. This presentation illustrates how such endorsements contribute to a masculinity contest culture (MCC) defined by a boastful level of confidence, a lack of humility, and avoidance of any behavior deemed as feminine or weak (show no weakness). MCCs also emphasise work over external commitments, demonstrations of physical strength and toughness (e.g., height, athleticism, physical toughness), and ruthless competition played by ‘dog-eat-dog’ rules. Drawing from studies involving two Canadian police services, this presentation examines the far-reaching implications of MCCs, including higher levels of bullying and harassment and the manifestation of a psychological climate of silence that involves not only targets of mistreatment, but also police colleagues, supervisors and officers in positions of authority and influence. In other words, MCCs pressure lower status group members to ‘stay in their place’ or conform with expectations if they want to succeed. Part of the challenge in addressing MCCs in policing is that officers in higher positions of power, who have been long-standing winners of the masculinity contest, are less likely to perceive there is a problem. Indeed, such leaders are likely to impede efforts to promote more equitable work environments because they fail to recognize harmful MCC norms that continue to prop them up while holding others down. Despite this challenge, this presentation proposes that lower ranking police supervisors can mitigate the harmful effects of MCCs by modeling ethical leadership and institutional courage. That is, doing the right things, creating a safe space for people to speak up, listening to what people have to say, and taking responsibility to address acts of injustice.

Author

• Angela Workman-Stark, Athabasca University