Abstract
SAPOL women came into uniform with the same job and person specification as their male police colleagues in 1974, largely as a result of emerging equal opportunity legislation. This chapter outlines from their perspective, the struggle, including bullying, harassment and prolific gender-based discrimination, for them and their capacity to thrive in a very challenging environment. Recent inquiries by Commissioners of Equal Opportunity in several Australian states are referenced, indicating that contemporary female officers are not immune to the 1970s experiences of their predecessors but that much progress in terms of their cultural contribution to policing has been achieved. The interview data is rich in evidence of female resilience in policing and of the nature and effectiveness of their coping mechanisms and interpersonal skills. Their impact on a male-dominated policing culture is well described as are the changes they have wrought and the future they face.
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Notes
- 1.
“Bodgies and widgies” were young people who dressed in tight jeans and sported unusual haircuts, congregating in public places as a challenge to the conservative culture of the time. See (Moore, 2004).
- 2.
I quote the same officer in more detail in the bullying and harassment data section below.
- 3.
In the Riverland of South Australia.
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Paterson, A. (2021). The Feminisation of Policing. In: Trauma and Resilience in Contemporary Australian Policing. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4416-0_3
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