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| Sexual Stress... |
and the
Female
Police Officer
Female
Police Officer
When I did the page on sexual stress and the male police officer, I had
no intention of addressing the same subject regarding female police
officers. I learned a long time ago to keep my analysis of women's
behavior, sexual or otherwise, to myself whenever possible. However,
fair is fair, and I should make an effort to provide advice to women
seriously considering a police career since all things sexual have become
of such interest, and a real source of consequences.
When I began my police career, police commanders didn't want to know
anything about your domestic life, and they especially didn't want to
hear anything about sexual issues. When some things change, they
change in a big way. Today, the subject of sex is everywhere, and police
departments can't escape a reality that sometimes reaches absurd
proportions.
As a female police officer, you'll be entering a work force where, on
average, you'll be outnumbered 9 to 1. While some women might find
the lopsided ratio appealing, others won't. It really doesn't matter
which view you take, because you'll be subjected to sexual stress either
way. The only difference will be in how and why that stress originates.
As long as you begin your career with the realization that you have no
immunity from being subjected to sources of sexual stress, you'll be way
ahead at protecting yourself from needless suffering. You might think
that all the sexual harassment laws will protect you from sexual stress.
Think again, because most male police officers don't even think about
sexual harassment issues; until, they're slammed in the face with an
allegation of sexual harassment. Further, when sexual stress is placed
into the context of sexual harassment, it simply results in additional
stress.
You'll fall into one of two categories of female police officers. In the
first category are those women who become police officers, because they
really want to do police work. The second category will be comprised of
women who know men's weaknesses, and they will not hesitate in
exploiting those weaknesses. Since you're obviously in the first
category, listen closely.
Police departments aren't any different from any other male dominated
work environment. Just as in any other line of work, you'll see women
exploit their sexuality from flirting -- to much more -- for favors and
advancement. Those sexually based professional relationships often
result in stress for everyone in the immediate work environment.
When those relationships sour, or become scandalous, the negative
effects only multiply along with the number of people affected.
While men could have much more positive control in limiting sexual
favoritism, that just simply isn't the reality. You might work for a
sergeant -- hopefully -- who won't tolerate any type, or even an
appearance, of sexual favoritism while your higher ranking unit or
district commander has never met a woman who couldn't manipulate
him ten different ways.
You will see women receive favorable treatment and advancement
through their sexual manipulation of men. However, think about the
stress they're suffering from the knowledge that everybody knows how
they're obtaining the favors and advancement. Women who use sexual
manipulation will often justify their behavior through cynical
self-delusion. They'll convince themselves that they are qualified for
better assignments and advancement, but, just because they're women,
they'll be denied their deserved assignments and advancement.
Therefore, sexual manipulation is just something they have to practice.
You don't have to believe me, because you'll learn for yourself that
women who rely on their sexuality are rarely, if ever, qualified for
assignments and advancement derived through sexual relationships.
While those women will be subjected to the obvious stress generated
from the tenuous nature of such relationships, their behavior will be a
source of stress for their female co-workers as well.
The experts will tell you that you're entering a career rife with sexism.
Well...that just isn't so. It's easy to substitute sexism for the normal
ways things have been done and continue to be done. You've got to
remember that you're entering government where the concepts of
quality and competence are not immediately associated. You can be a
police officer, male or female, of exceptional quality and competence,
and you'll learn that those attributes won't, on their own, get you
anywhere when it comes to assignments and advancement.
In government, the politics and personal connections are the
determining factors. Here's where being female obviously becomes
tricky. How do you make those personal and political connections in a
male dominated environment without sex entering into the picture? It's
obviously possible since a lot of women manage to advance without
becoming practitioners of sexual manipulation.
Police work does have unique aspects to sexual stress. You'll be dealing
regularly with a male criminal element that has no appreciation for
women. When a woman puts on a police uniform, that lack of
appreciation can become even more pronounced. You could frequently
find yourself enduring sexist comments and language that will initially
cause you stress. You'll simply have to train yourself to tune out the
insults. If you don't, the resulting stress will be of your own making.
Then there's the normal thing between men and women that often
occurs in the workplace. Yes...the work environment often creates
legitimate romantic relationships. Here's the only advice I can give you
on this one. If you're working together in an assignment where you're
performing actual police work like responding to calls and doing other
dangerous things, request that one of you be transferred to another
assignment.
In police work, controlling your emotional responses to anything is a big
deal. Where intimate relationships are involved, danger to one will
evoke a strong emotional response from the other. When a police
officer's action(s) is controlled more by emotion than training, the
result(s) can be catastrophic.
When you begin your career, you're going to be just as inexperienced as
your male counterparts. You're going to need advice and guidance just
like the new guys. Unlike the boys, however, you may well find more
willingness from the experienced cops to help you. I wonder why?
Anyway...never feel uncomfortable about putting anyone in his place if
he's making you feel uncomfortable.
no intention of addressing the same subject regarding female police
officers. I learned a long time ago to keep my analysis of women's
behavior, sexual or otherwise, to myself whenever possible. However,
fair is fair, and I should make an effort to provide advice to women
seriously considering a police career since all things sexual have become
of such interest, and a real source of consequences.
When I began my police career, police commanders didn't want to know
anything about your domestic life, and they especially didn't want to
hear anything about sexual issues. When some things change, they
change in a big way. Today, the subject of sex is everywhere, and police
departments can't escape a reality that sometimes reaches absurd
proportions.
As a female police officer, you'll be entering a work force where, on
average, you'll be outnumbered 9 to 1. While some women might find
the lopsided ratio appealing, others won't. It really doesn't matter
which view you take, because you'll be subjected to sexual stress either
way. The only difference will be in how and why that stress originates.
As long as you begin your career with the realization that you have no
immunity from being subjected to sources of sexual stress, you'll be way
ahead at protecting yourself from needless suffering. You might think
that all the sexual harassment laws will protect you from sexual stress.
Think again, because most male police officers don't even think about
sexual harassment issues; until, they're slammed in the face with an
allegation of sexual harassment. Further, when sexual stress is placed
into the context of sexual harassment, it simply results in additional
stress.
You'll fall into one of two categories of female police officers. In the
first category are those women who become police officers, because they
really want to do police work. The second category will be comprised of
women who know men's weaknesses, and they will not hesitate in
exploiting those weaknesses. Since you're obviously in the first
category, listen closely.
Police departments aren't any different from any other male dominated
work environment. Just as in any other line of work, you'll see women
exploit their sexuality from flirting -- to much more -- for favors and
advancement. Those sexually based professional relationships often
result in stress for everyone in the immediate work environment.
When those relationships sour, or become scandalous, the negative
effects only multiply along with the number of people affected.
While men could have much more positive control in limiting sexual
favoritism, that just simply isn't the reality. You might work for a
sergeant -- hopefully -- who won't tolerate any type, or even an
appearance, of sexual favoritism while your higher ranking unit or
district commander has never met a woman who couldn't manipulate
him ten different ways.
You will see women receive favorable treatment and advancement
through their sexual manipulation of men. However, think about the
stress they're suffering from the knowledge that everybody knows how
they're obtaining the favors and advancement. Women who use sexual
manipulation will often justify their behavior through cynical
self-delusion. They'll convince themselves that they are qualified for
better assignments and advancement, but, just because they're women,
they'll be denied their deserved assignments and advancement.
Therefore, sexual manipulation is just something they have to practice.
You don't have to believe me, because you'll learn for yourself that
women who rely on their sexuality are rarely, if ever, qualified for
assignments and advancement derived through sexual relationships.
While those women will be subjected to the obvious stress generated
from the tenuous nature of such relationships, their behavior will be a
source of stress for their female co-workers as well.
The experts will tell you that you're entering a career rife with sexism.
Well...that just isn't so. It's easy to substitute sexism for the normal
ways things have been done and continue to be done. You've got to
remember that you're entering government where the concepts of
quality and competence are not immediately associated. You can be a
police officer, male or female, of exceptional quality and competence,
and you'll learn that those attributes won't, on their own, get you
anywhere when it comes to assignments and advancement.
In government, the politics and personal connections are the
determining factors. Here's where being female obviously becomes
tricky. How do you make those personal and political connections in a
male dominated environment without sex entering into the picture? It's
obviously possible since a lot of women manage to advance without
becoming practitioners of sexual manipulation.
Police work does have unique aspects to sexual stress. You'll be dealing
regularly with a male criminal element that has no appreciation for
women. When a woman puts on a police uniform, that lack of
appreciation can become even more pronounced. You could frequently
find yourself enduring sexist comments and language that will initially
cause you stress. You'll simply have to train yourself to tune out the
insults. If you don't, the resulting stress will be of your own making.
Then there's the normal thing between men and women that often
occurs in the workplace. Yes...the work environment often creates
legitimate romantic relationships. Here's the only advice I can give you
on this one. If you're working together in an assignment where you're
performing actual police work like responding to calls and doing other
dangerous things, request that one of you be transferred to another
assignment.
In police work, controlling your emotional responses to anything is a big
deal. Where intimate relationships are involved, danger to one will
evoke a strong emotional response from the other. When a police
officer's action(s) is controlled more by emotion than training, the
result(s) can be catastrophic.
When you begin your career, you're going to be just as inexperienced as
your male counterparts. You're going to need advice and guidance just
like the new guys. Unlike the boys, however, you may well find more
willingness from the experienced cops to help you. I wonder why?
Anyway...never feel uncomfortable about putting anyone in his place if
he's making you feel uncomfortable.
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| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
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