Saturday, November 7, 2009
BLog Post #21
The National Association of Female Correctional Officers has identified the issues of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape as most significant to its members. The stereotypical woman is depicted as weak and vulnerable. They are also seen as unequal to men, and of less value to society. Britton discusses the gendered policies and practices of prisons that can reinforce these stereotypical ideas to the male inmates. Compounded with that is the fact that a bunch of men are living together and competing for male dominance which can be defined by sexual aggressiveness. Britton first suggests that we change the depictions of the male prison system as aggressive, violent, and sexually sadistic. Then, she points out that training these officers more appropriately and informing them of what the prisoners are really going to act like will help the situation of the female officers. This will allow them to be more aware, and therefore better prepared. The prevention would be in showing the prisoners that these women are not vulnerable or weak, that they are seen as equals to men, and that their skills should not be devalued. The prison systems could make this happen by changing their policies and practices. Making women more able to deal with domestic responsibilities would greatly decrease the gender segregation and inequality. Also, making things like the ability to defuse violence without the use of violence more equitable to male traits of aggressiveness will decrease the devaluing of feminine traits. If the inmates who rape women do not see the women as vulnerable and devalued, they are less likely to attempt to harass or rape them.
Blog Post #20
Britton’s study is concerned with the idea that prisons are gender organizations. She argues this on the basis that the job of a correctional officer has embedded assumptions about what traits an ideal worker has. The main characteristics that the job is assumed to require are physical and mental toughness, as well as aggressiveness, which are all masculine traits. It is thought that a correctional officer needs these traits because of the assumed level of violence within the prisons, which is in fact false. Then, through policies, and formal and informal practices this ideal is reproduced. A good example of this is the training that teaches the new officers how to deal with violence in a high security prison in the worst situation possible, and it scares them. Also, the training never prepares them for what they are about to face a female guards, or what they will face if they work in a female prison.
The hostage situation in Arizona reflects these problems because this female guard actually did experience a high level of violence. She was raped and beaten as one prisoner tried to escape but it turned into a hostage situation. But, as Britton discusses, this victim knew how to use her “female skills,” or her people management skills to survive. Instead of matching violence with violence, like a “masculine” officer may do, she acted as if she agreed with them and made them see her as person rather than a guard. She also played into the role of the “dumb girl” by pretending she did not know how to use the guns or the panel controls, and this worked for her. It seems that in a hostage situation like this one, masculine aggressiveness and brutality would have lended itself as well as typical “female characteristics.” Also, Dora displayed the “female” characteristics of patience. If she had been the “ideal prison worker” who displayed aggressiveness, she would have had that tower invaded immediately while being unconcerned with the potential costs. However, because of her patience she got the prisoners to surrender and saved the life of her employee. Raiding the hostage situation would have got the employee killed.
Britton labels a turnkey officer as a guard who acts as a parent figure to the inmates. A guard that takes on a parent or custodial role for prisoners is like to try to nurture them, teach them right from wrong, and attempt to rehabilitate and transform the prisoners, rather than just lock them up until their time is fulfilled. From what Britton has defined as female and male characteristics, it seems that this type of behavior is more like to be used by a female officer, as it is assumed females carry that “maternal sense.” The only way I see the hostage situation reflecting this is that both the victim and Dora used “maternal” or “female” skills to make the situation o the way they intended. Lois, victim, used what could be considered maternal skills to make the offender listen to her and see her as a person without having to use violence or dominance. Even though Lois thought she was going to die right up until the two men were handcuffed, she managed to remain calm, play the game, and attempt to nurture these guys. Dora did the same thing. Instead of using what is male dominance, she wanted to talk these guys off the cliff, and convince them to do the right thing, just like a parent figure would.
I am not sure which suggestion of Britton’s this is referring to since she makes several through the book. I am going to assume it is the suggestion she makes in the final chapter about giving training that more thoroughly prepares officers for work in both men’s and women’s institutions as well as to give more information about the different environments they will face. Yes, this would have helped to potentially stop this situation but hindsight is always 20/20. It is my assumption that this was a well planned attack because it happened to be right at the time when a new person was coming into power, and there was more likely to be a small lapse in security as she was getting used to how the place is run. However, this would be extremely helpful in the future to prevent this type of occurrence, and also change the negative impact of policies on women.
The hostage situation in Arizona reflects these problems because this female guard actually did experience a high level of violence. She was raped and beaten as one prisoner tried to escape but it turned into a hostage situation. But, as Britton discusses, this victim knew how to use her “female skills,” or her people management skills to survive. Instead of matching violence with violence, like a “masculine” officer may do, she acted as if she agreed with them and made them see her as person rather than a guard. She also played into the role of the “dumb girl” by pretending she did not know how to use the guns or the panel controls, and this worked for her. It seems that in a hostage situation like this one, masculine aggressiveness and brutality would have lended itself as well as typical “female characteristics.” Also, Dora displayed the “female” characteristics of patience. If she had been the “ideal prison worker” who displayed aggressiveness, she would have had that tower invaded immediately while being unconcerned with the potential costs. However, because of her patience she got the prisoners to surrender and saved the life of her employee. Raiding the hostage situation would have got the employee killed.
Britton labels a turnkey officer as a guard who acts as a parent figure to the inmates. A guard that takes on a parent or custodial role for prisoners is like to try to nurture them, teach them right from wrong, and attempt to rehabilitate and transform the prisoners, rather than just lock them up until their time is fulfilled. From what Britton has defined as female and male characteristics, it seems that this type of behavior is more like to be used by a female officer, as it is assumed females carry that “maternal sense.” The only way I see the hostage situation reflecting this is that both the victim and Dora used “maternal” or “female” skills to make the situation o the way they intended. Lois, victim, used what could be considered maternal skills to make the offender listen to her and see her as a person without having to use violence or dominance. Even though Lois thought she was going to die right up until the two men were handcuffed, she managed to remain calm, play the game, and attempt to nurture these guys. Dora did the same thing. Instead of using what is male dominance, she wanted to talk these guys off the cliff, and convince them to do the right thing, just like a parent figure would.
I am not sure which suggestion of Britton’s this is referring to since she makes several through the book. I am going to assume it is the suggestion she makes in the final chapter about giving training that more thoroughly prepares officers for work in both men’s and women’s institutions as well as to give more information about the different environments they will face. Yes, this would have helped to potentially stop this situation but hindsight is always 20/20. It is my assumption that this was a well planned attack because it happened to be right at the time when a new person was coming into power, and there was more likely to be a small lapse in security as she was getting used to how the place is run. However, this would be extremely helpful in the future to prevent this type of occurrence, and also change the negative impact of policies on women.
Blog Post #19
Geena Davis noticed that kids see the same gender segregation in their shows that we see as adults in real life. She gives several examples of cartoons that based on stereotypes and masculinity. Winnie the Pooh only has one female character, and she is the mother of Roo, and never does anything by herself. In the Looney tunes, the only female character is Granny, the owner of Tweety, who must leave in order for the story to happen. She even finds that these cartoons characters emphasize the importance of the female body. Miss Piggy had cleavage. In the Smurfs, there were originally no female characters. Until a witch made Smurfette, who was considered ugly, to ruin the Smurfs. However, the Smurfs accepted her after she was turned into a blond bombshell. Things like this tell young children that it is only important that girls look pretty. It teaches that the worth of women is different and less then men. The foundation that Geena Davis started found that very few of the top animated movies have female characters, and the ones that do show highly stereotyped women. When of think of movies like this I think of Cinderella, Snow White, and the Little Mermaid who were all “damsels in distress,” who couldn’t fend for themselves and needed a man to save them. Even this shows that women are unable to deal with physical violence and cannot handle typical male activities.
It is assumed that women are not physically strong enough or aggressive enough to deal with physical violence. Colleagues see these women more as liabilities and someone who will have to be saved if violence arises. It is assumed that the women mo=must be able to use physical means in order to control violence. Many male workers feel that women are not cut out for jobs that deal with violence, but men are, “strictly by virtue of being male.”
It is assumed that women are not physically strong enough or aggressive enough to deal with physical violence. Colleagues see these women more as liabilities and someone who will have to be saved if violence arises. It is assumed that the women mo=must be able to use physical means in order to control violence. Many male workers feel that women are not cut out for jobs that deal with violence, but men are, “strictly by virtue of being male.”
Blog Post #18
The on-the-job training provided for working as a correctional officer tries to use gender-neutral practices that are actually masculine in nature. This reinforces correctional work as gendered. It is true that everyone receives the same training for both male and female prisons because everyone is trained together, they learn the same material, and passes the same tests. However, it becomes gendered because the teachers over exaggerate the level of violence that exist within the job. This exaggeration scares many people away, mostly women. They sell the job as requiring toughness and aggressiveness, which are both considered masculine qualities. The truth is that violence like they are taught in class is very rare. When it is questioned if women can handle the job, the supervisors are concerning themselves with the “what ifs” that rarely ever occur. The job is mostly about managing people. One officer tells Britton that the hardest part of the job is not physical, it’s mental, and they are not prepared for that. This officer explains that the inmates are always trying to get one over on them.
The training they call generic or gender-neutral is actually masculine. It assumes that both the officer and the inmate are male. No one tells the women what it is really going to be like. No one explains that they may have to deal with sexual harassment and resistance from the inmates, and potential discrimination from their male counterparts. One of the female officers that was interviewed says she wished a female officer had come in a briefly told them what to expect. Also, most of the generic training is for high security prisons which are almost always male prisons, as many times women are in lower security prisons. These officers are not taught that the female prisons are completely different than male prisons. When dealing with women, a different set of skills needs to be utilized because the interactions are different. This masculine based training leads officers to see female prisons as “exceptions, and more lenient than male prisons.”
The training they call generic or gender-neutral is actually masculine. It assumes that both the officer and the inmate are male. No one tells the women what it is really going to be like. No one explains that they may have to deal with sexual harassment and resistance from the inmates, and potential discrimination from their male counterparts. One of the female officers that was interviewed says she wished a female officer had come in a briefly told them what to expect. Also, most of the generic training is for high security prisons which are almost always male prisons, as many times women are in lower security prisons. These officers are not taught that the female prisons are completely different than male prisons. When dealing with women, a different set of skills needs to be utilized because the interactions are different. This masculine based training leads officers to see female prisons as “exceptions, and more lenient than male prisons.”
Blog Post #17
I found the documentary on NBC to be very interesting. Even though I know my assumptions are wrong, I still think of women prisons as rather non-violent. My assumption is always that women are in prison for petty crimes like drugs and theft, so it was interesting to see a documentary where most of the inmates were serving long sentences for violent crimes. Also, I knew that the women in female prisons tended to form lesbian relationships but I had no idea how I invested they were in each other. One of the officers hit it dead on when they said it is scary that they care more about the other person, than their self and their sentence. Britton discusses the humanistic attitudes that correctional officer have towards the inmates and the film was a good example of that. The officers never seemed to be looking down on the inmate, but they did seem to want to evoke change from the prisoners like a mother. It was clear the officers respected the inmates and wanted to see them succeed in life.
Britton points out that many times the correctional officers will spend more time with inmates then they spend with their own families. This level of proximity can tend to break down stereotypes on both sides, and possibly create an emotional relationship or attachment. Previously, in situations of this nature, officers have been persuaded to go too far. There have been instances where the officer has had a sexual relationship with the inmate or where the officer has brought the inmate illegal contraband and allowed inappropriate activities. In the video on NBC, one life time prisoner talks about how she would bait the workers and convince them to give her stuff like money and drugs. Relationship like this can push the officer to be hurt by behavior the inmate exhibits or what the inmate suffers from. Officers must remain cautious in order not to be compromised. This is especially true for men working in female prisons. Some essential assumptions the officers have of inmates is that there are difference between the officers and the inmates that rationalize the bad behavior of the inmates. The officers have a strong set of attitudes about inmates that include the assumption that they will always behave badly, and an overall sense of distrust. However, they also assert that all of the inmates are human that have made mistakes, and they do deserve to be treated with respect. The officers just approach the inmates with reservation.
Britton points out that there seems to be a disproportionate number of inmates who are of a minority. Officers of Latin and African American descent (minorities), have to deal with rationalizing this apparent discrepancy. Also, one African American female officer that Britton quoted says she was hired to do the dirty work and keep “her” inmates in check. Many of these minority officers feel pressured to demonstrate their loyalty to their co-workers over their ethnicity by distancing themselves from inmates of the same ethnicity. The minority officers show a more positive orientation towards rehabilitation of the offenders because they respect them as human beings, however, they still use strategies to keep themselves emotionally separated. The term the “language of the overseer” means a disidentification with their racial or ethnic identity that is shared with inmates. Sometimes they will use the method that Britton calls “active construction of other markers of difference” to feel separated from these inmates.
In saying that the officers use humanistic attitudes towards inmates that tended to objectify or infantilize them, we are saying that the officers do not view them as their equals. Some officers view them as animals, and that their job is to restrain these animals. Most of the officers view the inmates as having the mentality of a child, but they still prioritize communication with the inmates. They respect the prisoners but they feel that because of their education level or their upbringing they need to speak to them like a child. In this way, the officers take on more of a maternalistic/paternalistic role. They chose to play a custodial role, and hope to transform the inmates.
The officers see the inmates as rather spoiled. They come to prison for being deviant and they have a bed, food, cable television, a gym with weights, a pool table, and their schooling all paid for by the government. One officer compares it as a cheaper alternative to a retirement home. Another officer points out that it keeps the inmates busy and makes their jobs easier. Also, it give the officers something to take away for bad behavior.
The form of social control that is used in the women’s prison is based on rehabilitation and family. It seeks to transform the inmates and help them to succeed in life. This type of social control is used because female are far more emotional then men, and also more manipulative. Most male prisons have a form of social control that is based in masculinity and run by the older inmates. If one inmate acts out they will have to answer to their peers as well as the officers, which is almost worse.
Britton points out that many times the correctional officers will spend more time with inmates then they spend with their own families. This level of proximity can tend to break down stereotypes on both sides, and possibly create an emotional relationship or attachment. Previously, in situations of this nature, officers have been persuaded to go too far. There have been instances where the officer has had a sexual relationship with the inmate or where the officer has brought the inmate illegal contraband and allowed inappropriate activities. In the video on NBC, one life time prisoner talks about how she would bait the workers and convince them to give her stuff like money and drugs. Relationship like this can push the officer to be hurt by behavior the inmate exhibits or what the inmate suffers from. Officers must remain cautious in order not to be compromised. This is especially true for men working in female prisons. Some essential assumptions the officers have of inmates is that there are difference between the officers and the inmates that rationalize the bad behavior of the inmates. The officers have a strong set of attitudes about inmates that include the assumption that they will always behave badly, and an overall sense of distrust. However, they also assert that all of the inmates are human that have made mistakes, and they do deserve to be treated with respect. The officers just approach the inmates with reservation.
Britton points out that there seems to be a disproportionate number of inmates who are of a minority. Officers of Latin and African American descent (minorities), have to deal with rationalizing this apparent discrepancy. Also, one African American female officer that Britton quoted says she was hired to do the dirty work and keep “her” inmates in check. Many of these minority officers feel pressured to demonstrate their loyalty to their co-workers over their ethnicity by distancing themselves from inmates of the same ethnicity. The minority officers show a more positive orientation towards rehabilitation of the offenders because they respect them as human beings, however, they still use strategies to keep themselves emotionally separated. The term the “language of the overseer” means a disidentification with their racial or ethnic identity that is shared with inmates. Sometimes they will use the method that Britton calls “active construction of other markers of difference” to feel separated from these inmates.
In saying that the officers use humanistic attitudes towards inmates that tended to objectify or infantilize them, we are saying that the officers do not view them as their equals. Some officers view them as animals, and that their job is to restrain these animals. Most of the officers view the inmates as having the mentality of a child, but they still prioritize communication with the inmates. They respect the prisoners but they feel that because of their education level or their upbringing they need to speak to them like a child. In this way, the officers take on more of a maternalistic/paternalistic role. They chose to play a custodial role, and hope to transform the inmates.
The officers see the inmates as rather spoiled. They come to prison for being deviant and they have a bed, food, cable television, a gym with weights, a pool table, and their schooling all paid for by the government. One officer compares it as a cheaper alternative to a retirement home. Another officer points out that it keeps the inmates busy and makes their jobs easier. Also, it give the officers something to take away for bad behavior.
The form of social control that is used in the women’s prison is based on rehabilitation and family. It seeks to transform the inmates and help them to succeed in life. This type of social control is used because female are far more emotional then men, and also more manipulative. Most male prisons have a form of social control that is based in masculinity and run by the older inmates. If one inmate acts out they will have to answer to their peers as well as the officers, which is almost worse.
Blog post #16
The path to working as a correctional officer in a prison seems the most gendered in how people get into the field. The men seem to come from backgrounds of government work (military, police) which lend more to working in the prison system. Women tend to come from backgrounds that have nothing to do with the prison system so it is more unlikely they will look for a job with that kind of institution. Also, the pay is more than what a woman could make at other jobs, on average, but for men it is less.
Many of the officers that Britton interviewed said they drifted into the job. However, there seems to be a clear relationship between previous work and becoming a correctional officer for most of the men. 44% of the men that Britton interviewed came from the military. One man explained his draw to being a correctional officer was that is had a lot of structure like the military. Many of these men aspired to be a police officer and feel into the prison system in some way. The other jobs that men previously held were janitor, welder, miner, and assembly line workers. It seems that these jobs are not directly related but they have in common that they are very male dominated. For women, it seemed that previous job experience had no effect on becoming a correctional officer. Most women came from clerical type jobs or sales, and none believed that corrections was a natural progression. The women that were teachers saw the most resemblance in the sense that they were basically baby-sitters for the inmates just like they were for their students. Circumstance, opportunity, and personal contacts were what led most women into corrections. Social networks play a very large role in how women get into prison corrections, but not as much for men. Men tend to come from a similar background, but women tend to be told about the job by someone they know. One woman in Britton’s interview explained that she lived by a prison her whole life, and her friend told her about it, and that is how she got started. This woman actually started as a secretary and gradually moved into corrections. Another woman explained that a customer at her old job told her about the job in the prison. Britton explains that is often the weak ties, or acquaintances that introduce you to the best information.
It seems that the biggest motive for both genders is the money. The job requires that you have a high school diploma or a GED, so the money is really good for a person with no formal education, especially for women. For women and minority men, the pay is much better than other available work. White men make about the same or a little less working as a correctional officer. It is likely the government benefits of this job it what motivates the white men. They offer good health insurance, vacation, and retirement. Prison jobs also have high job security. Many people in the interviews with Britton referred to the job as “the best available option.”
Many of the officers that Britton interviewed said they drifted into the job. However, there seems to be a clear relationship between previous work and becoming a correctional officer for most of the men. 44% of the men that Britton interviewed came from the military. One man explained his draw to being a correctional officer was that is had a lot of structure like the military. Many of these men aspired to be a police officer and feel into the prison system in some way. The other jobs that men previously held were janitor, welder, miner, and assembly line workers. It seems that these jobs are not directly related but they have in common that they are very male dominated. For women, it seemed that previous job experience had no effect on becoming a correctional officer. Most women came from clerical type jobs or sales, and none believed that corrections was a natural progression. The women that were teachers saw the most resemblance in the sense that they were basically baby-sitters for the inmates just like they were for their students. Circumstance, opportunity, and personal contacts were what led most women into corrections. Social networks play a very large role in how women get into prison corrections, but not as much for men. Men tend to come from a similar background, but women tend to be told about the job by someone they know. One woman in Britton’s interview explained that she lived by a prison her whole life, and her friend told her about it, and that is how she got started. This woman actually started as a secretary and gradually moved into corrections. Another woman explained that a customer at her old job told her about the job in the prison. Britton explains that is often the weak ties, or acquaintances that introduce you to the best information.
It seems that the biggest motive for both genders is the money. The job requires that you have a high school diploma or a GED, so the money is really good for a person with no formal education, especially for women. For women and minority men, the pay is much better than other available work. White men make about the same or a little less working as a correctional officer. It is likely the government benefits of this job it what motivates the white men. They offer good health insurance, vacation, and retirement. Prison jobs also have high job security. Many people in the interviews with Britton referred to the job as “the best available option.”
Blog Post #15
Starting in the 1980 and through the mid 1990s, the US experienced a huge population growth. With this, we saw a large increase in number of people incarcerated. At the beginning of this population boom, the imprisonment of women increased four times, while the imprisonment of men increased but not nearly as much. When the growth of the population seemed to level out the number of women in prison kept growing. We saw a trend that the states that had a high rate of population growth overall, had a higher rate of women in prison as well. Likewise, those states that had a drop in population saw a drop in the amount of women in prison. While the number of women incarcerated has grown, they still hold a relatively small portion of the overall prison population. Researchers have attributed this recent growth of women in prison to a few historical changes in the US. An example is the movement for equal rights for women. This could have caused more women to become involved with crime, and it could have led to more equal punishment. We also saw an increase in domestic violence during this time, and pro-arrest policies were instated. These may have led to more arrests of women for domestic assault that we may not have seen in the past. During this time, crack cocaine was introduced to the US, and so was the “war on drugs.” This “war” was supposed decrease the violence of men, but it has been greatly affecting women as well. Now, 32% of women prisoners are serving time for drug offenses. Drug arrests have been a major player in the increase in female prison population, but not so much for men which has stayed about the same.
Many reformers are concerned that women have inadequate access to education, vocational training, health care, and psychological treatment, and this has been attributed to their relatively low numbers and the high cost. They are also concerned with the fact that 70% of these women have children who are being negatively impacted by their mother’s incarceration. It is argued that the domestic responsibilities should be taken into account because their children experienced hardship before and during incarceration, and they will experience more after release. These children experience separation from siblings, constant change in caregivers, anxiety, guilt, and fear. A major concern in how well a female convict will be able to provide for her family after release because the conviction will greatly affect how she will get the much needed resources. It is likely that if she cannot do this she will relapse and return to a life of crime. Reformers are fighting for alternatives to incarceration that are based in the community on order to give these women a way to lead a self sufficient life. Many of the women are prison are serving time for non-violent offenses and women tend to have low recidivism rates so it will not jeopardize public safety.
Arizona’s history is similar in the fact that they saw an increase in prison populations overall and of women. However, they are different because they rank 7th in the nation for the female imprisonment rate. Since 1999, they saw a 60% increase in the female prison population. They tend to be tough in comparison to most states.
Many reformers are concerned that women have inadequate access to education, vocational training, health care, and psychological treatment, and this has been attributed to their relatively low numbers and the high cost. They are also concerned with the fact that 70% of these women have children who are being negatively impacted by their mother’s incarceration. It is argued that the domestic responsibilities should be taken into account because their children experienced hardship before and during incarceration, and they will experience more after release. These children experience separation from siblings, constant change in caregivers, anxiety, guilt, and fear. A major concern in how well a female convict will be able to provide for her family after release because the conviction will greatly affect how she will get the much needed resources. It is likely that if she cannot do this she will relapse and return to a life of crime. Reformers are fighting for alternatives to incarceration that are based in the community on order to give these women a way to lead a self sufficient life. Many of the women are prison are serving time for non-violent offenses and women tend to have low recidivism rates so it will not jeopardize public safety.
Arizona’s history is similar in the fact that they saw an increase in prison populations overall and of women. However, they are different because they rank 7th in the nation for the female imprisonment rate. Since 1999, they saw a 60% increase in the female prison population. They tend to be tough in comparison to most states.
Blog Post #14
Britton used the theory of gendered organization to frame her research questions on occupational segregation both in general, and in the prison system. This theory includes separate levels which are structure, culture, and agency. We think about all of these levels in gendered ways. No organization is gender neutral, and most organizations are based on preexisting assumptions that reproduce gender segregation. All of these things affect job choice, employer preference, and the practices and policies of organizations, and in turn we see ongoing job segregation of the basis of male and female. Britton questions why this segregation is so persistent. She also questions why it is that the jobs we have culturally socialized as “female jobs” pay less. On that same note she wonders what factors keep women and “female jobs” at the bottom of the occupational ladder. Britton gives the example of female attorneys who specialize in “female” areas like family law and public defense that make far less money than male attorneys in “male” specializations. Why are female skills devalued? This type of segregation that seems to be engrained in our culture and our institutions is not allowing any further forward progress, and that is what Britton wants to look deeper into, and it is at the heart of gendered organization.
Structure, agency, and culture are all interlinked in the ongoing process of gendered organization because they all influence each other, and affect the choices of employees and employers. Culture connotates our social beliefs about gender, and what traits are male and female, and which jobs each other those traits fits into. Therefore, culture defines male and female jobs. The practices and policies of organizations are based on what the culture has defined as proper male and female jobs. A great example of this is informal practices job assignments for men and women in the same job are based on culturally defined “male” and “female” traits, and women end up in more domestic assignments, and men get the strength and intellectually based jobs. Then what culture defines and what organization base their structure on is reinforced by agency. The workers search for the individual identity as a work, and interpret themselves as possessors of appropriate masculine or feminine qualities. This is likely to reinforce gender inequality in the work place.
When Britton says that “organizations are gendered at the level of structure,” she means that policies and practices of organizations are based on gender, whether it is directly or indirectly. These practices and policies are created on the basis of what the workers and what culture defines as occupational masculinity or femininity. Obviously, this plays a major role in gender segregation.
Public and private spheres have become a gendered concept because it is much harder for women to separate the two, than for men, and women are negatively affected when jobs call for complete separation. As a culture we have decided that women are in charge of domestic responsibilities. This most likely originates from when women never workers and they we homemakers, but there has been little shift in domestic responsibility since women have joined the work force. Because women still have to handle domestic tasks like child care, the men can more easily enjoy the separation of work and home, than women can. Since women joined the workforce, women are expected to be the jack of all trades – a good mom, employee, wife, sister, daughter, cook, house cleaner, etc. Most employers are going to assume that a woman requires a certain level of flexibility to handle her domestic responsibilities, and that affects their choice on whether they are going to employ certain women.
In turn, women have to make trade offs to have that level of flexibility, and they pay the price for it. They more likely to be stuck in gender jobs, dead end jobs, and jobs that have a significantly lower pay scale.
Structure, agency, and culture are all interlinked in the ongoing process of gendered organization because they all influence each other, and affect the choices of employees and employers. Culture connotates our social beliefs about gender, and what traits are male and female, and which jobs each other those traits fits into. Therefore, culture defines male and female jobs. The practices and policies of organizations are based on what the culture has defined as proper male and female jobs. A great example of this is informal practices job assignments for men and women in the same job are based on culturally defined “male” and “female” traits, and women end up in more domestic assignments, and men get the strength and intellectually based jobs. Then what culture defines and what organization base their structure on is reinforced by agency. The workers search for the individual identity as a work, and interpret themselves as possessors of appropriate masculine or feminine qualities. This is likely to reinforce gender inequality in the work place.
When Britton says that “organizations are gendered at the level of structure,” she means that policies and practices of organizations are based on gender, whether it is directly or indirectly. These practices and policies are created on the basis of what the workers and what culture defines as occupational masculinity or femininity. Obviously, this plays a major role in gender segregation.
Public and private spheres have become a gendered concept because it is much harder for women to separate the two, than for men, and women are negatively affected when jobs call for complete separation. As a culture we have decided that women are in charge of domestic responsibilities. This most likely originates from when women never workers and they we homemakers, but there has been little shift in domestic responsibility since women have joined the work force. Because women still have to handle domestic tasks like child care, the men can more easily enjoy the separation of work and home, than women can. Since women joined the workforce, women are expected to be the jack of all trades – a good mom, employee, wife, sister, daughter, cook, house cleaner, etc. Most employers are going to assume that a woman requires a certain level of flexibility to handle her domestic responsibilities, and that affects their choice on whether they are going to employ certain women.
In turn, women have to make trade offs to have that level of flexibility, and they pay the price for it. They more likely to be stuck in gender jobs, dead end jobs, and jobs that have a significantly lower pay scale.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Blog Post #13
The media images of prison guards generally portray them as big, tall, strong, dominant men, or the stereotypical masculine man. They generally carry a weapon of some sort and look men, and like they can handle any unruly prisoner with violence. When I think of prison guards I think of the ones in the Shawshank Redemption. Those guards were brutal; they continually beat the prisoners and killed some of the prisoners from beating them so badly. In that movie, it seemed that they guards beat the prisoners to prove that they were more dominant then them, and to belittle them and make them know they were inferior and useless. I am not sure that images of female guards in male prisons exist; if so, I haven’t seen any. Regardless, I still do have an image in my head of a very masculine woman who is strong and rather emotional as a prison guard in a male facility. It is actually really sad that that image is what I think of because not only do I know that it is a stereotype, and an incorrect one at that, but I actually visit a prison rather often so I know that female guards are not like that at all. From my personal experience, they only difference I see between female guards and our stereotypical female is that they seem a little less sweet, and a little more blunt and to the point but I feel that is because their job calls for them to behave in that manor, and they probably only behave that way at work.
There are definitely difference in the images that portray correctional officers in female prisons and male prisons. The officers in male prisons are portrayed as strong, harsh, dominant, and using brute force to settle all problems. This is mainly because it is assumed that male prisons are always violent, and therefore the officers need to be able to control this in whatever way they can. The truth is that the prisons are rarely that violent because the prisoners keep each other in check. The officers in female prisons are not portrayed so harshly because people assume that female prisons are not violent because it is not in the nature of women to act aggressively. However, this is a stereotype of women, and is not true. The only films I have ever seen with guards in a female prison are in a juvenile female prison. The guards were not mean, they were more understanding, and they did not carry weapons, or use force. It seems that guards trained in female prisons are trained not to use force or dominance, while guards trained in male prisons are.
There are definitely difference in the images that portray correctional officers in female prisons and male prisons. The officers in male prisons are portrayed as strong, harsh, dominant, and using brute force to settle all problems. This is mainly because it is assumed that male prisons are always violent, and therefore the officers need to be able to control this in whatever way they can. The truth is that the prisons are rarely that violent because the prisoners keep each other in check. The officers in female prisons are not portrayed so harshly because people assume that female prisons are not violent because it is not in the nature of women to act aggressively. However, this is a stereotype of women, and is not true. The only films I have ever seen with guards in a female prison are in a juvenile female prison. The guards were not mean, they were more understanding, and they did not carry weapons, or use force. It seems that guards trained in female prisons are trained not to use force or dominance, while guards trained in male prisons are.
Blog Post #12
It seems that gender occupational segregation because of the way our society defines masculinity and feminity. These definitions include an assumption of what typical female and male jobs are. For example, some stereotypical female jobs would be administrative work, social work, teaching, and nursing. Stereotypical male jobs would include jobs in technology, science, math, security, and manual labor. People stick to what they have been socialized to think because they feel the “other gender” jobs are harder to break into, it can be challenging, they may have no support, they may gain resentment from their co-workers, and they do not want to stick out in the crowd. Gender socialization helps in the formation of occupational segregation because it labels women as always being sweet, polite, and emotional, as assuming the role of a nurturer, and as not as intellectually capable as their male counterparts. It labels men as strong, dominant, the financial provider, emotionless, and academically savvy. Many institutions play into these stereotypes, furthering occupational gender segregation. Britton gives the example of a prison as an institution that does exactly that. It is generally assumed that women cannot work in the prison system because they cannot handle rowdy inmates and violence. Therefore, prison jobs are considered male jobs because it is assumed that the job requires brute strength, mental strength, and male dominance. People think the job requires these traits because it is also assumed that a male prison is overtly violent, mainly because we match masculinity with violence. Hence, a woman would be powerless to this level of perceived violence as they cannot handle masculine men. Society perceives women as the weaker sex. Jobs in administrative work and secretarial work tend to have mostly female employees because these jobs do not require either physical or mental strength, or academic intelligence. However, I am unsure if this kind of job is segregated because of the institution or because men do not want this kind of work for fear they will be looked down upon.
Women have several advantages if they can break into a male dominated occupation. The biggest advantage is that they will make more money because “male” jobs tend to pay higher then women. They can gain a sense of satisfaction and empowerment from succeeding against the odds. It seems to me that men can chose whether they gain or lose from women entering “their” fields. Women going against the odds and succeeding has a major impact on society. If the men chose not to b bitter about the success of these women, then they can gain. I feel that men can learn from women, just as women can learn from men, in order to have the best of both worlds. Men can definitely gain from the different traits that women bring to the table. However, if men chose to be bitter about it, they will lose. They will lose the opportunity to learn and grow as an employee because they feel that a woman took a job reserved for a man.
Women have several advantages if they can break into a male dominated occupation. The biggest advantage is that they will make more money because “male” jobs tend to pay higher then women. They can gain a sense of satisfaction and empowerment from succeeding against the odds. It seems to me that men can chose whether they gain or lose from women entering “their” fields. Women going against the odds and succeeding has a major impact on society. If the men chose not to b bitter about the success of these women, then they can gain. I feel that men can learn from women, just as women can learn from men, in order to have the best of both worlds. Men can definitely gain from the different traits that women bring to the table. However, if men chose to be bitter about it, they will lose. They will lose the opportunity to learn and grow as an employee because they feel that a woman took a job reserved for a man.
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