Women Police Who are Betrayed by the Badge: How Sexual Harassment Erodes Trust in the Agency and Contributes to Psychological Distress

Based on a survey response of 491 women police employed in a large, state-based Australian police agency, this study found that women police who experienced sexual harassment also reported higher levels of psychological distress. The relationship between sexual harassment and psychological distress can be largely explained by the perceived failure of the agency to uphold the expected obligation that it would protect its members (psychological contract breach) and the emotional impact that results (embitterment). Police agencies and their leaders must act to better support woman police who experience sexual harassment. Women police need to think, feel, and experience their police agencies as workplaces that are committed to fairness, respect, and justice. This is essential in protecting their psychological health.