VERTICAL MOBILITY, THE “GLASS CEILING”, AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION: PERCEPTION OF FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS

Abstract

In Serbia women are still discriminated against in all aspects of their public and private lives. The security system, especially police, bears the consequences of structural inequalities. Our research deals with the position of women working in police units. The aim of the research was to define the identities of policewomen in Serbia through their perception of vertical advancement and exposure to gender discrimination. The research will be based on qualitative approach ‒ interviews with women police officers. The sample will consist of 40 respondents from different police units, selected using the snowball method. Qualitative results indicated the presence certain doses of gender stereotypes in women, but also their impression that they are not completely professionally accepted by colleagues. The results indicate a structural gender segregation and marginalization, which is reflected in the imprisonment of women in narrow circle of administrative and auxiliary police work. The findings of this study will represent an important argument in the development and improvement of gender-sensitive regulation in the police, protection against discrimination and in the projection of its personnel structure and career advancement of employees under equal conditions.