Female correctional officers in male prisons. Gender role stereotypes in correctional facilities.

Female Correctional Officers in Male Prisons: Gender Role Stereotypes in Correctional Facilities
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Female Correctional Officers in Male Prisons: Gender Role Stereotypes in Correctional Facilities
Correctional facilities have for the most part been male-dominated and most of the inmates and guards are usually men, with no female guard in some male prisons. This predominantly male environment is often a great challenge for the female officers because of the gender role stereotype that the female officers are subjected to by their colleagues, supervisors, and even inmates (Griffin, 2013; Patrick, 2014). There is a general assumption that women are physically and mentally weak to work in hostile environments that characterize male prisons. While it is true that the state in these prisons is not friendly, women too have the ability to handle the demanding tasks. For those working in correctional settings, supervisors tend to assign routine duties to female officers in a discriminating way (Whitehead, Dodson, & Edwards, 2015). Older and experienced male prison officers usually harbor negative views towards female correctional officers and correctional facilities with the least proportion of female officers have a tendency to have masculine subcultures that refuse to accept female officers.
The prevalence of stereotypes against female officers is the outcome of mistaken beliefs that women do not have the mental and physical ability to handle inmates. It might also be because male prisoners are often physically imposing and, therefore, female officers are usually seen as too frail to handle such persons.

Therefore, female correctional officers are for the most part assigned desk duties, a situation that is often influenced by the need to prevent instances of sexual harassment by inmates, such as protecting female officers from indecent exposure by male inmates (Conte, 2010; Clear, Cole, & Reisig, 2013). It is worth noting that female officers face more hostility from their male colleagues than they do from the inmates. Male officers frequently mistrust the female counterparts due to the fear that female officers may become too friendly with the inmates. There is also the belief that being a correctional officer is an exclusively male domain, which makes females to be viewed as intruders.
Convicts can also become hostile, especially when they feel officers are using too much force (Carlson, 2015; Cole, Smith, & DeJong, 2017). This means that female guards are sometimes perceived as harboring hatred for the male inmates, who then resist their authority. Sexual harassment is also a major concern for female correctional officers. Both the prisoners and the male officers tend to make unsolicited sexual advances and derogatory comments about the female officers. The idea that inmates are sexually starved and that the guards are the easiest way to copulation sometimes serves as a temptation for the prisoners (Mallicoat & Ireland, 2014). Indeed, manipulative inmates and supervisors often target female officers for sexual favors. In some cases, the promotion of female officers is tied to sexual favors due to the prevailing stereotype that female officers cannot work hard and smart enough to warrant promotions. It is believed, at least within this context, that a female officer must be ready to offer sexual favors in exchange for a job promotion (Erçetin, 2016; Walsh, 2016).
Despite the challenges, the role of female officers in the male-dominated correctional facilities cannot be underestimated. There is a level of compromise needed if female correctional officers are to be embraced in the current correctional environment. In a male-dominated field, female guards find it more difficult to carry out their jobs effectively (Hanser, 2016). The problem is, however, not a straightforward one since there appears to be no end in sight. As more studies are done to examine the impacts of the discussed stereotype and ways through which it can be controlled, female officers should continue offering exemplary correctional services.They have a job to do, and they must be given all the necessary support to mitigate the negative impacts of the gender role stereotyping.
References
Carlson, P. M. (2015). Prison and jail administration: Practice and theory. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Clear, T. R., Cole, G. F., & Reisig, M. D. (2013). American corrections. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Cole, G. F., Smith, C. E., & DeJong, C. (2017). The American system of criminal justice. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Conte, A. (2010). Sexual harassment in the workplace: Law and practice. New York, NY: Aspen Publishers.
Erçetin, Ş. Ş. (2016). Women leaders in chaotic environments: Examinations of leadership using complexity theory. Cham, CH: Springer International Publishing.
Griffin, M. L. (2013). From resistance to integration: The influence of gender in the corrections work environment. In R. C. Renzetti, S. L. Miller, & A. R Gover (Eds.), Routledge international handbook of crime and gender studies (pp. 279-291). London, UK: Routledge.
Hanser, R. D. (2016). Introduction to corrections + correctional theory,2nd ed. Washington DC: Sage Publications.
Mallicoat, S. L., & Ireland, C. (2014). Women and crime: The essentials. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Patrick, E. A. (2014). Women working with criminal men: The raised eyebrow. Saint Paul, MN: St. Catherine University.
Walsh, D. J. (2016). Employment law for human resource practice. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Whitehead, J. T., Dodson, K. D., & Edwards, B. D. (2015). Corrections: Exploring crime, punishment, and justice in America. New York, NY: Routledge.