Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area.

dc.contributor.advisorKinnes, Irvin
dc.contributor.authorZondeka, Kuhle Nwabisa
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-14T12:50:32Z
dc.date.available2025-03-14T12:50:32Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-03-14T12:34:43Z
dc.description.abstractSouth Africa grapples with a policing crisis marked by rising gender-based violence, corruption, high violent crime rates, robbery, and murder. Effective solutions to improve policing require holistic police reform, addressing internal issues including gender inequality. This study examines the experiences of policewomen in the South African Police Service (SAPS), uncovering their challenges with their male counterparts in the workplace as well as the communities they serve in. Through open-ended interviews, the research reveals discrimination based on capabilities, workplace sexual harassment, and societal devaluation of policewomen as challenges policewomen experience. By applying an intersectional feminist lens, the study recognises the intricate identities of policewomen that are shaped by the intersection of gender and race in a male-dominated society. Policewomen in the SAPS face consistent and constant challenges, however, they continue to demonstrate resilience against mistreatment from colleagues, the public, and superiors. The study concluded that the experience of being a woman in the SAPS defies a simple narrative and lacks a clear formula. This unique experience demands constant efforts to overcome adversities and contribute to changing dynamics within policing. Furthermore, the study showed that policewomen play a crucial role in police reform, standing resilient amid challenges, exemplifying strength, and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable policing environment.
dc.identifier.apacitationZondeka, K. N. (2024). <i>Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41184en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationZondeka, Kuhle Nwabisa. <i>"Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41184en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationZondeka, K.N. 2024. Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41184en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Zondeka, Kuhle Nwabisa AB - South Africa grapples with a policing crisis marked by rising gender-based violence, corruption, high violent crime rates, robbery, and murder. Effective solutions to improve policing require holistic police reform, addressing internal issues including gender inequality. This study examines the experiences of policewomen in the South African Police Service (SAPS), uncovering their challenges with their male counterparts in the workplace as well as the communities they serve in. Through open-ended interviews, the research reveals discrimination based on capabilities, workplace sexual harassment, and societal devaluation of policewomen as challenges policewomen experience. By applying an intersectional feminist lens, the study recognises the intricate identities of policewomen that are shaped by the intersection of gender and race in a male-dominated society. Policewomen in the SAPS face consistent and constant challenges, however, they continue to demonstrate resilience against mistreatment from colleagues, the public, and superiors. The study concluded that the experience of being a woman in the SAPS defies a simple narrative and lacks a clear formula. This unique experience demands constant efforts to overcome adversities and contribute to changing dynamics within policing. Furthermore, the study showed that policewomen play a crucial role in police reform, standing resilient amid challenges, exemplifying strength, and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable policing environment. DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Criminology KW - Law KW - Society LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area TI - Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41184 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41184
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationZondeka KN. Women in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41184en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066Eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Law
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Law
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectCriminology
dc.subjectLaw
dc.subjectSociety
dc.titleWomen in blue: Meaning and identity perspectives of policewomen within the South African Police Services in the Cape Town Metropolitan area.
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil in Criminology, Law & Society
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