• Korean Security Journal
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• no.45
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• pp.37-63
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• 2015

The purpose of this study explores the relationship between male inmates' gender stereotypes for female correctional officers and its impact on their stress level while they are doing their time in prisons. To fulfill the purpose of this study, this study uses a set of survey data of 216 male inmates collected from prisons nationwide. The data contains information regarding male inmates' perceptions towards male and female correctional officers as well as their stress level in prisons. The findings of this study suggest that male inmates have low level of gender stereotype against female correctional officers. Further, this study found that none of male inmates' gender perceptions toward female officers has impact on the inmates' reported stress. Rather, perceptions toward the entire correctional officers, which include both gender officers, have influence on the inmates's stress during incarceration. This finding suggests that male inmates consider female officers as a part of professional correctional organization without specific gender stereotype or perceptions toward female officers. It indicates that the concerns regarding the relationship between male inmates and female officers may be a mere myth rather than a serious issues that need to be considered as a barrier for expand female officers carrier opportunity in the corrections systems. Finally, Implications for the research findings for preventing suicide attacks are discussed.