The Psychological Impact of Perceived Gender-Based Discrimination against Female Police Officers of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Gender-based discrimination (GBD) challenges female police officers globally, yet its psychological impact, especially in Sri Lanka, has not been thoroughly researched. This study explored perceived GBD's lived experiences and psychological consequences for Sri Lankan female officers, informed by socialist feminism and Schein's organizational culture model. The primary objective was to understand GBD's psychological impact on female officers' self-identity and job satisfaction. A purposeful sample of six female police officers with 5+ years of service, perceiving GBD, was recruited from regional stations. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore subjective meaning-making. Analysis revealed prevalent experiences of perceived incompetence, devaluation, and blocked career progression, attributed to deeply embedded patriarchal attitudes. These led to significant emotional distress, including numbness, pain, embarrassment, disappointment, hopelessness, and exhaustion, as well as lower self-esteem and work identity conflict. Findings highlight how embedded patriarchy and societal gender norms have a significant negative impact on female officers'psychological well-being. Discrimination causes substantial emotional distress and challenges to identity and job satisfaction, emphasizing the urgent need for interventions against systemic gender bias in law enforcement.