Dr. Kristenne Robison, Westminster College assistant professor of sociology, presented a paper at the Gender, Work, and Organization 2010 conference June 21-23 at Keele University, Staffordshire, England.

Robison's presentation, "The Ethical, Political and Pragmatic Implications of Hiring Policewomen to 'Care' in the Department," was part of the "Ethics and Politics of Gender in Organizations" stream.

Some scholars boast that one of the merits of adding women to a police force is that they bring a more feminine, supportive approach ("ethic of care") to police work, while others disagree. Robison's paper explores the implications of hiring policewomen to engage in "women's work" and implement "feminine values" on the job.

Her position is supported by an ethnographic study of a large police department in the Northeast whose force boasts 25% women and 33% minorities, well above national averages. The study was based on 30 in-depth interviews with female officers and five administrators and 18 ride-alongs with female officers. Robison found that varying levels of caring behaviors were influenced by the demands of the situation, the gendered organization, and the individual characteristics of the officer.

Robison, who joined the Westminster faculty in 2009, earned an undergraduate degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, master's from the Ohio State University, and master's and Ph.D. from Syracuse University.

Contact Robison at (724) 946-6033 or e-mail robisokm@westminster.edu for additional information.

Dr. Kristenne Robison at Westminster Abbey