The role of bystandership for socially sustainable and inclusive police organisations
(2024) p.83-101- Abstract
This chapter seeks to explore the intersections between occupational cultures, bystanders, and social justice and inclusion based on the empirical example of policing. Specifically, we pursue the question: what is the role of police officers as bystanders to occupational police culture and how does that influence inclusion? Against the backdrop of occupational culture, we put forth four key aspects of policing (social legitimacy, hierarchy, loyalty, masculinity) that are relevant for making sense of bystandership with respect to inclusion/exclusion in police occupational culture. Further, we present four stories about the experiences of police officers contending with the inclusion of minorities, each featuring a different type of... (More)
This chapter seeks to explore the intersections between occupational cultures, bystanders, and social justice and inclusion based on the empirical example of policing. Specifically, we pursue the question: what is the role of police officers as bystanders to occupational police culture and how does that influence inclusion? Against the backdrop of occupational culture, we put forth four key aspects of policing (social legitimacy, hierarchy, loyalty, masculinity) that are relevant for making sense of bystandership with respect to inclusion/exclusion in police occupational culture. Further, we present four stories about the experiences of police officers contending with the inclusion of minorities, each featuring a different type of bystandership (silent, indifferent, whistleblowing, and powerless). We argue that bystander engagement plays an essential role in maintaining the social legitimacy of the police, and in particular processes of inclusion and exclusion. Yet, due to the particularities of police organisations, including norms that prescribe, hierarchy, loyalty, and that privilege traditional masculinity, speaking up as a bystander may be complicated. In other words, the organisational culture and structure surrounding policing create challenges for bystanders and for creating occupational cultures that support bystander engagement. We therefore-in contrast to individualised solutions such as bystander training-call for a stronger focus on occupational culture for facilitating bystander engagement.
(Less)
- author
- Rennstam, Jens LU and Sullivan, Katie
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-01-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Social Sustainability and Good Work in Organizations
- pages
- 19 pages
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85195746329
- ISBN
- 9781003856207
- 9781032307381
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003306436-5
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c2fd983b-89ee-49ad-bf08-c857e720f4ee
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-12 13:08:31
- date last changed
- 2024-09-12 13:08:44
@inbook{c2fd983b-89ee-49ad-bf08-c857e720f4ee,
abstract = {{<p>This chapter seeks to explore the intersections between occupational cultures, bystanders, and social justice and inclusion based on the empirical example of policing. Specifically, we pursue the question: what is the role of police officers as bystanders to occupational police culture and how does that influence inclusion? Against the backdrop of occupational culture, we put forth four key aspects of policing (social legitimacy, hierarchy, loyalty, masculinity) that are relevant for making sense of bystandership with respect to inclusion/exclusion in police occupational culture. Further, we present four stories about the experiences of police officers contending with the inclusion of minorities, each featuring a different type of bystandership (silent, indifferent, whistleblowing, and powerless). We argue that bystander engagement plays an essential role in maintaining the social legitimacy of the police, and in particular processes of inclusion and exclusion. Yet, due to the particularities of police organisations, including norms that prescribe, hierarchy, loyalty, and that privilege traditional masculinity, speaking up as a bystander may be complicated. In other words, the organisational culture and structure surrounding policing create challenges for bystanders and for creating occupational cultures that support bystander engagement. We therefore-in contrast to individualised solutions such as bystander training-call for a stronger focus on occupational culture for facilitating bystander engagement.</p>}},
author = {{Rennstam, Jens and Sullivan, Katie}},
booktitle = {{Social Sustainability and Good Work in Organizations}},
isbn = {{9781003856207}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{83--101}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
title = {{The role of bystandership for socially sustainable and inclusive police organisations}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003306436-5}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781003306436-5}},
year = {{2024}},
}