Canalan, Elif; Gökçearslan, Elif

Prison employees, much like the concepts of crime and punishment, are often predominantly associated with men. While the role of correctional officer has become a recognized career option for women, concerns remain about how well prisons accommodate women officers. This study explores the oppression factors experienced by 40 female correctional officers from 26 prisons in Turkey through in-depth interviews using a qualitative approach. The findings reveal significant social, organizational, gender-based, relational, and prison population-related oppressions. In addition to social stigmatization, lack of support, and the pressure to conform to masculine behaviors, female officers face hostility and resistance from inmates, colleagues, and supervisors; this is further reinforced by the hyper-masculine work environment and deeply entrenched patriarchal structures. The study emphasizes the urgent need for gender-sensitive policies and practices within the Turkish criminal justice system, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable work environment to help address entrenched inequalities.

Çetintaş, Elif; Gökçearslan, Elif

This qualitative study examines the complex, contradictory, and multidimensional roles of female correctional officers (COs) in Turkish prisons through reflexive thematic analysis. Based on interviews with 40 female COs across 26 prisons, the findings show that officers often provide prison residents with informal psychosocial support to compensate for institutional gaps. However, the absence of clear role definitions, adequate training, and organizational support positions them as unprepared “de facto crisis managers” in cases of suicide attempts, self-harm, or withdrawal crises. The results highlight a persistent role conflict between care and control, shaped by gendered expectations, prison culture, and structural deficiencies.