Blog #16

Interestingly, Britton finds that very few young people dream about becoming a prison guard when they grow up and for those who do land jobs as such; it is often times a last resort as there is an existing demand for them. However because there are stereotypes associated with being a corrections officer, the white educated males are likely to seek other jobs as they can make more than the average $30K (an officer makes) in other work industries. As a result, the jobs are often left behind to be occupied by minorities with a high school education. The women in Britton’s study were aspiring to become police officers but when those opportunities fell through for one reason or another, they opted for the position of correctional officer instead. For some men and women (but mostly for men-44% compared to 7%), the previous work experience in the military is what encouraged them to seek jobs in corrections. In the media and in our culture, it seems that the male is the ideal candidate for a position of control and to oversee unruly persons. In the past when women were considered to have failed to live up to their standard lady-like behavior, it was not uncommon for them to be supervised by men. But when reformists sought change in the conditions in which women were housed, women began to be sought after to supervise female prisoners as they could understand the needs of a woman more so than a man and this opened opportunities for women to enter what is still today, a male dominated field.
However, although this specific job field has offered opportunities to women, it is not prestige that future prison guards are after. In Britton’s study, both men and women cite that it is the pay and benefits that lures them to these positions because they outweigh the potential risks. Because most prisons are located in rural areas, often times good paying jobs that only require a high school education are hard to come by and therefore those seeking stable employment settle for positions as prison guards.