Towards gender equality reform in police organisations: the utility of a social justice approach

ABSTRACT

Recent investigations into sex discrimination, sexual harassment and predatory behaviour within police organisations have led to a range of gender reforms that aim to create more inclusion, respect and safety. These reforms have tended to be female-focused and designed to support greater equality for female police. This paper reports on an interview-based study that sought to understand and address resistance to gender equality reform within a large police organisation in Australia. The paper draws on Nancy Fraser’s model of social justice to consider the capacity of particular reforms to reproduce and/or transform the organisation’s hierarchical structures and masculinised cultures. Fraser’s model is presented as enriching current understandings about how the policy aims of gender equality might be realised in police organisations through a broader focus on supporting political, cultural and economic justice for all. The paper concludes by considering the practice implications of this social justice approach for police organisations.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender equality reform
• police organisations
• social justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Keddie

Amanda Keddie is a Professor of Education at Deakin University (Australia). Her research examines the processes, practices and conditions that can impact on the pursuit of social justice in education settings. Amanda’s qualitative research has been based within Australian, English and American education and community contexts and is strongly informed by feminist and social justice theories with a particular focus on gender equality and issues of masculinity.