Being a woman in a “man’s work”: effects of gender roles on occupational commitment and life satisfaction of women

Purpose Based on the role congruity theory (RCT), this study aims to determine the effects of gender roles on life satisfaction and occupational commitment levels of female employees working in law enforcement. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses were tested through a series of hierarchical regression analyses on the data collected from 394 female respondents who are having their first year in law enforcement. Findings Both male and female gender roles were positively related to the life satisfaction levels of women working in law enforcement. Female gender role was also positively linked to higher levels of occupational commitment. The link between male gender role and occupational commitment was nonlinear; therefore, the positive relationship between the variables turns into a negative one for higher levels of male gender role. Originality/value This study furthers the understanding of RCT and its implications regarding how gender roles link to work-related outcomes, especially for women working in a male-dominated work context.