32. Describe the impact of race and gender on police officer careers.Sport - Assignment Example

The impact of race and gender on police officer careers Race and gender have a significant impact on the police officer careers. Police officers areperceived by the public with respect to their race and gender. The nature of job of a police officer is rough and tough and is very demanding physically as well as emotionally. Generally, women are too delicate to take the pressure of the job particularly when they have to take care of their families as well. Unless an individual has a good psychological balance and strong nerves, the job of police officer may increase the individual’s susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder later in life.

Therefore, men are generally more suitable for such jobs as compared to women as men are stronger physically and generally more balanced emotionally than women. “[G]ender is a highly relevant factor in examining the sources and coping strategies of stress among police officers” (He, Zhao, and Ren, 2005, p. 537). The race and gender of a police officer may provide the offenders with basis to exploit the police officer. Many people file discrimination suits against the police officers because of their gender or race.

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission found that most men frequently used race as a reason to file discrimination suits against the police officers whereas women used gender for the same purpose (Gaines and Kappeler, 2011, p. 95). For example, a group of White American police officers accusing an African American of robbery may be interpreted as racism against the African American. Likewise, since there is always a variation in the representation of the police officers belonging to different races, there is risk of racism in the police department like in any other organization.

References: Gaines, L. K., and Kappeler, V. E. (2011). Policing in America. USA: Anderson Publishing. He, N., Zhao, J., and Ren, L. (2005). Do race and gender matter in police stress? A preliminary assessment of the interactive effects. Journal of Criminal Justice. 33: 535-547.