Are you man enough? : a case study of how masculinity is represented and experienced in the South African Police Service

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The occupation of policing is one that is traditionally associated with men and regarded as amasculine sphere. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is no exception. My thesis seeks toinvestigate how masculinity is experienced by male and female officers in the SAPS in onespecific police station in the Western Cape. Connell's (1995) three-fold model of the structure ofgender in society is used to understand masculinity, along with her distinction betweenhegemonic and subordinated forms of masculinity. According to this model, gender is structuredthrough power relations, production relations and cathexis.Through an analysis of organisational police culture operating at three levels - formal,institutional and 'canteen' (or informal) – I explore the experiences of police officers in thisregard. Each of these levels offers a different arena of analysis for understanding the culture ofpolicing in the South African context.In my discussion, I highlight that although Connell's model of how masculinity is constructed isuseful for understanding the dynamics of police culture across these different levels, theexperience of masculinity by both male and female police officers has to be understood as acomplex process. The idea of a simple hegemonic masculinity is too limiting in understandinggender dynamics and relationships within the institution. My thesis also argues that, within theconfines of the SAPS, there is a need to value certain traits perceived as 'masculine', such asphysical strength, while also taking into consideration the value of other attributes generallyperceived as 'feminine', such as compassion. The acceptance of a more androgynous policeservice, with more space for personnel to move between socially accepted gender roles andexpectations, is needed. The valuing of these traits should not be gender-specific, but shouldcreate opportunities for officers to be able to display both 'masculine' and 'feminine' traits andengage in 'masculine' and 'feminine' duties, regardless of their gender.The field research was located at a single police station, referred to as The Dorp Police Station.A qualitative, case study methodology was employed, drawing extensively on in-depthinterviews with individual officers along with limited informal and participant observation at thepolice station. Content analysis of the online version of the official police journal provided an additional source of data for the study. The study also involved an engagement with general andSouth African literature on masculinity, policing and police culture.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University