Police et manifestantes : une étude qualitative sur l'expérience des femmes en action de protestation
Studies on policing protest have identified key variables relative to strategies employed on groups, namely political ideology and identity of protesters. However, empirical data on gender is scarce even if this variable distinguishes women's experiences in other forms of police intervention. The purpose of this study is therefore to understand the experiences of women activists in their interaction with the police in the context of collective actions. In order to assess whether gender influences their relations with the police, nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with women activists who experienced numerous conflictual exchanges with the police. The analysis of the interviews has demonstrated that gender is important in the construction of their experience. Gendered interactions took place both at an individual level as well as when police intervened on protest groups. Sexist, paternalistic, machismo and sexualized comments and attitudes shape rapports between individuals, and shed light on the presence of the discretionary power of police officers during crowd management interventions. When trying to understand what motivates the choice of a particular intervention directed towards a militant group, it is difficult to consider gender as a predictive factor. However, it caracterizes part of women’s interactions when gathering around feminist or non-mixt issues. These interactions allow us to argue that the police controls social disorders, but also protects the gendered social order. This brings us to reflect on women's recourse of violence as a form of civil disobedience. Finally, the conflicting interactions have had considerable effects on the mobilization of these activists, leading to the crystallization of certain ideologies and perceptions about the police institution. This study follows a feminist perspective that pursues a broader goal of understanding the gender relations that build women's lives.
Police Manifestation Protest policing Gender Women Social movements Demonstration Feminism Police discretion Women's violence Qualitative methodology