Patriarchal beliefs and perceptions towards women among Indian police officers: A study of Uttar Pradesh, India

Date01 September 2020
DOI10.1177/1461355720905612
Published date01 September 2020
Subject MatterArticles
PSM905612 232..241
Article
International Journal of
Police Science & Management
Patriarchal beliefs and perceptions
2020, Vol. 22(3) 232–241
ª The Author(s) 2020
towards women among Indian police
Article reuse guidelines:
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officers: A study of Uttar Pradesh, India
DOI: 10.1177/1461355720905612
journals.sagepub.com/home/psm
Saumya Tripathi
Silver School of Social Work, New York University, USA; Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, USA
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the association between patriarchal beliefs and perceptions regarding gender
equity among Indian police officers. Using convenience and systematic random sampling, a cross-sectional survey was
conducted with 190 police officers from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. The survey collected information about
patriarchal beliefs, perception regarding gender equity, as well as social demographic characteristics including age,
education, gender, work experience, working shifts/hours, place of residence and family system. Multiple linear
regressions were used to predict patriarchal beliefs, utilizing the independent variable of perceptions regarding gender
equity. Police officials held a high degree of patriarchal belief and inequitable perceptions regarding the gender roles of
women. Multiple linear regression analysis, controlling for key sociodemographic variables, demonstrated a statistically
significant association between the police officers’ patriarchal beliefs and their perceptions of gender equity. These findings
emphasize the need for greater representation of female police officers and gender-inclusive training for all police officers
in providing services to women. Gender-sensitive interventions may help facilitate positive change for police officers that
hold strong patriarchal perceptions towards women and who may make it more difficult for women to successfully submit
gender-based complaints.
Keywords
India, police, women, patriarchy, gender equity
Submitted 06 Jul 2019, Revise received 23 Nov 2019, accepted 08 Jan 2020
Background
cases that involve women and girls (Human Rights Watch,
2017; Rawat, 2017; Roy, 2012). Indian police officers often
For women encountering abuse in India, the police are
fail to investigate cases such as rape and domestic violence,
often the first point of formal contact for filing a complaint
and are hostile in their responses to women, thereby re-
or pressing charges (Belur et al., 2014; Himabindu et al.,
traumatizing survivors of abuse who are seeking help
2014; Human Rights Watch [HRW], 2017). In India,
(Human Rights Watch, 2009). A common police response
women and girls who experience abuse, violence or harass-
is refusal to file a complaint or asking women to protect
ment are often reluctant to approach the police for help for
their family honor by not registering the case. Because of
several reasons. Patriarchal beliefs of police officers
the fear of being ostracized and shamed by police, their
towards women are one among many factors that shape
this decision (Bannerji, 2016; Dhillon and Bakaya, 2014;
Gorringe, 2018; Vishwanath and Palakonda, 2011).
Women complainants who choose to come forward face
Corresponding author:
Saumya Tripathi, Silver School of Social Work, New York University;
many challenges, such as being humiliated, or ridiculed
Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York,
by police authorities. Studies indicate that victim blaming
NY, USA.
is a common response from Indian police, especially in
Emails: saumya.tripathi@nyu.edu; stripathi1@fordham.edu

Tripathi
233
families and wider society, Indian women prefer not to
2015). It is often assumed that women are incompatible
disclose their abuse to others or do not report their com-
with this role or lack the kind of masculine skills that are
plaint to the police (Joseph et al., 2017).
essential for policing. These masculine skills are character-
There is limited research, investigating the processes of
ized by aggression, competitiveness and a heterosexist
formal disclosure and filing of complaints by women in
orientation (Page, 2008). The gendered nature of policing
India (Gupta, 2014; Palermo, 2014; World Health Organi-
perceives women as fragile, lacking a tough physique, and
zation [WHO], 2005). However, there are several docu-
being too emotionally weak to handle the hardships of the
mented cases in which police have been reluctant or even
outside world (Silvestri, 2017).
refused to press charges against a perpetrator because they
Patriarchal perceptions are primarily associated with a
believed that issues like domestic violence were private
culture of power and control in which men continue to be
household matters and needed to be resolved within fami-
prioritized in positions of power, including their roles as
lies (Bannerji, 2016). A study conducted in Delhi found
police officers. Patriarchal beliefs operate at both the insti-
that the majority (75%) of surveyed women had to return
tutional and societal levels. At the institutional level, male
to the police station several times before they could secure
police officers express contempt towards their female col-
a first information report (FIR) and a medical examination
leagues and have explicitly stated them as useless (Khani-
(Prasad, 1999). Discriminatory practices in policing not
kar, 2015). At the societal level, Indian culture reflects
only favor the perpetrators of violence, but also prevent
notions of male power and superiority, and female infer-
survivors from seeking justice. This inaction can have seri-
iority (Kalra and Bhugra, 2013). Certain practices by police
ous consequences for the mental wellbeing of complainants
officers, have been found to be humiliating and dehuma-
as they are more likely to suffer from persistent depression,
nizing to women (Aboh, 2018). One such practice, known
anxiety and post-traumatic stress (Human Rights Watch,
as the “two finger test”, is an intrusive physical examina-
2017; Sharma, 2015).
tion of a woman’s vagina to test the laxity of the vaginal
The purpose of this study was to understand better the
muscles and whether the hymen has been broken, as a
relationship between patriarchal beliefs and perceptions
proxy for women’s sexual purity and therefore their cred-
regarding gender equity among police officers. Patriarchy
ibility as a victim of sexual abuse. Women complainants
is an ideology that imposes masculine and feminine gender
may be reluctant to report abuse because of the moral
roles that explicitly place men in positions of power over
assumptions made of them if they report a rape case but
women (Rawat, 2014). Strongly held patriarchal beliefs are
do not “pass the test” because they have already been sexu-
a common phenomenon in India (Bannerji, 2016), where
ally active and are therefore perceived to be less likely to
women and girls are expected to adhere to rigid sociocul-
have been assaulted (Aboh, 2018).
tural norms, including domesticated roles for women, lack
The police have traditionally been a “male-centered”
of acceptance of gender nonconformity, and dishonor
profession in India (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government
placed on women for engaging in nontraditional behavior,
of India, 1999). In India, 95% of the police organization is
such as wearing revealing clothes, drinking, not engaging
comprised of men, and most male officers are insensitive to
in household duties, or prioritizing a career over family life
cases involving women and girls (Kapoor, 2017). Natarajan
(Chowdhury, 2015; Gorringe, 2018; Hundle, 2019). Offi-
(2014) found that in spite of efforts towards increased rep-
cers may import these patriarchal and traditional percep-
resentation of women in the police and their broad exposure
tions about women into their policing efforts.
to a wider range of duties, they are still negatively per-
As an institution, the Indian police are reflective of
ceived by their male counterparts. As a consequence,
wider societal views regarding gender. Comprised almost
female police officers often assume a subservient policing
entirely of men, the police force has largely been socialized
role (Natarajan, 2011, 2014; Rabe-Hemp, 2009; Sahgal,
to believe that women are subordinate to men and should
2007; Veldman et al., 2017) by not being responsible for
uphold traditional values (Kapoor, 2017; Natarajan, 2011,
leading interrogations, filing complaints or making deci-
2014; Wilson, 2016). In its wider definition, patriarchy
sions, but instead following explicit orders given by a male
implies the institutionalized system of male dominance
authority. Brodeur (2018) found that female police officers
(Batton and Wright, 2019; Chesney-Lind, 2006; Ogle and
were also subjected to gender-related jokes and harass-
Batton, 2009; Sultana, 2011; Walby 1990). As a criminal
ment, but did not complain about these incidents due to
justice institution, police are a part of this gendered power
fear of retaliation from their superiors.
dynamics that fosters systematic patriarchy at all levels of
Although the role of patriarchal beliefs towards women
social institutions (Bhattacharyya, 2016; Dutt, 2018).
among police officers is gradually becoming clear in
Police officers tend to believe that the institution of the
research (DeLong, 1997; Meier, 2013; Page, 2008; Wilson,
police is better organized by male members because of
2016; Young, 2011), little is known about the extent of
their physical masculinity and...

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