Misogyny In Police Essay

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Introduction:

This report is set out to research whether there is a culture of misogyny within Police, and if there is, what can be done about it. To begin this report, it is necessary to explain what misogyny is, and why it is relevant. Misogyny can be described as feelings of hatred and abhorrence towards women, and or the belief that men are superior to women (Cambridge Dictionary, 2019). Misogyny is deeply relevant in today’s society, especially within the British society, who in a recent report commissioned by Nottingham Women’s Centre found that 93.7% of respondents had witnessed or experienced misogynistic behaviour in public places (Trickett and Mullany, 2018). Misogyny itself is a dramatically important issue, deriving from historical …show more content…

This has been predominantly seen through online abuse faced by female police officers (Watson, 2022). This online abuse has been seen in forms of underlying misogyny, with silencing, belittling, and criticism of the lack of physicality in a policewoman’s characteristics (Watson, 2022). Although not institutionalised misogyny, it is yet another display of sexism within policing, and a display of the misogynistic culture that seems to be second nature within the police. Data has demonstrated that the majority of online abuse focuses on the physical characteristics of female police officers, with 60% of policewomen claiming to have received comments from males criticising their appearance (Brown, 1998). The online abuse being received is paralleled with literature which has recorded that approximately 70% of policewomen have been subject to a from of sexism or misogyny. The abuse from the public seems to correlate with that of institutionalised police misogyny, which asks the question, is there an overarching culture of misogyny or machismo attitude towards the police, which fuels the aforementioned misogynistic police …show more content…

Following this event, a shocking series of offences from Met police officers occurred. In 2020, two Met officers photographed, and circulated images of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman who were murdered in June 2020. In January 2023, police officer David Carrick was convicted for raping and torturing 12 women, over a period of 20 years, using his position to gain their trust. These crimes committed by the above officers demonstrates the disregard towards women, and the misogynistic attitude that the Met police culture instils in their officers. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted a series of investigations concerning the Met police, these were later published in their Operation Hotton report. This investigation found evidence of a toxic masculinity Met police culture, with evidence of sexual harassment and misogyny (IOPC, 2022). Operation Hotton has uncovered numerous WhatsApp messages about domestic violence, misogynistic, and demeaning remarks from Met police officers (IOPC,