A professional–cultural approach to discrimination – constructions of police discrimination in two European countries

• From a critical analytical framework, this article analyses survey responses conveying Swedish and German police officers' understanding of discriminatory behaviour in the workplace. The article relates discursive constructions of discrimination made in respondents' accounts of potential factors behind discrimination, and in positioning oneself. Taking into account previous studies on constructions of discrimination, this study develops and proposes some key strategies of explication of the cultural meanings assigned to forms of discrimination as well as justification of or resistance to discriminatory behaviour in professional contexts. Resistance to discrimination is displayed through (1) exposition of reasons behind discrimination, (2) display of a critical self-image and (3) strategic choice of mode of report. Differences to be found between Swedish and German respondents are attention to detail, to underlying factors in discrimination and to typical communicative practices regarding discriminatory behaviour. Sexism is acknowledged as a violation to a comparatively high degree, whereas racism is reported much less.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur -- Studier av enskilda språk (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature -- Specific Languages (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Discrimination

cultural critical discourse analysis

police

racism

sexism

Östersjö- och Östeuropaforskning

Baltic and East European studies

Other research area

Annat forskningsområde

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)