The Role of Work Culture in Female Police Officers' Mental Health

Abstract

Females make up approximately 22% of law enforcement officers in Canada. Despite the longstanding presence of women in law enforcement, researchers have not studied female officers’ experiences with their work culture and mental health until recent years. This study aimed to gain a phenomenological understanding of female police officers’ work culture and its impact on their mental health. The researcher interviewed 20 female police officers from across the country, and thematically analyzed the data collected. Four core themes emerged: mental health struggles, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and reduced use of force. The researcher discusses the current literature, study methodology, findings, and discussion centred on how the findings align with previous research.