Reference no: EM133720945

Question: As we've learned throughout this course, law enforcement is one of the most stressful careers in the workforce. However, it is argued that resources and support for stress management, or lack thereof, is one of the most problematic components faced by law enforcement officers today. Additionally, even if employee resources are available, most officers do not use them. This is consistent with studies across international agencies (Watson et al., 2018). The "tough guy" mentality or stigma surrounding law enforcement officers seeking help extends from military populations which is predominantly (white) male and driven by a "good old boy" culture which encompasses masculine loyalty and tradition. In male dominated industries, we see more masculine trends of expression where one is criticized and ostracized for being too emotional, too weak, and too incompetent. This is largely ignored within today's societal constraints, especially as we focus on overcoming other social adversities. Men, especially, are afraid of perceptions of incompetency, and women in law enforcement often feel like they have to prove themselves as "one of the guys" and will avoid anything that makes them appear as weak or emotional, including seeking professional help. Regardless of gender, anything that potentially sacrifices career advancements or makes an officer appear like they are not "fit for duty" are avoided. Even more so, women and minority officers report higher instances of PTSD symptoms in most studies supporting claims of cultural constraints with police employment (Ceka and Ermasova, 2021).