Aggression and Women Correctional Officers in Male Prisons

Abstract

Through questionnaires and phone interviews, the current study provides a preliminary look at the strategies employed by women correction officers (COs) when responding to volatile situations with male inmates. Results suggest most incidents do not elicit significant gender differences in aggression. Where differences exist, they are in the opposite direction than is commonly assumed—that is, women COs tend to be more aggressive than the men. The study concludes that occupational socialization and the demands of the job account for the similarities between genders and the differences result from the gender-specific barriers confronting women officers, and calls for further research.