Emotional inequities: exploring qualitatively the relationship between gender, emotional labour and well-being in UK prison officers

• In Event: PWG - (Mental) health and well-being of correctional staff

Abstract

Emotional labour – the process of managing and regulating feelings – is a critical yet underexplored aspect of prison work. Framed by a feminist criminology, this study investigates gender differences in the performance and experience of emotional labour among prison officers in the United Kingdom – a profession characterised by a high-stress environment, with a detrimental impact on well-being and mental health. Drawing on qualitative interviews with a self-selected sample of former and current prison officers, this study examines how gender shapes the techniques and strategies used to express, suppress and negotiate emotions in the prison environment. Following a thematic analysis, preliminary findings suggest that female officers are more likely to engage in ‘deep acting’ where feelings are aligned with professional expectations and is typically associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion or burnout. In contrast, male officers often adopt ‘surface acting’ strategies where the expected emotions are faked. These gender differences are contextualised within a masculinised occupational culture which emphasises displays of toughness and resilience. This study contributes to broader discussions on gender, work, and well-being, with implications for training, support systems and policy reforms aimed at fostering a more equitable prison workforce.

Author

• Clare Rawdin, Anglia Ruskin University