Objective:

An analysis is presented on the organisational identity and occupational role of the gendarmes belonging to the Santiago Sur Preventive Detention Centre from the concept of “dirty work” and a gender perspective.

Methodology:

Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with gendarmes -five male gendarmes and five female gendarmes- regarding their organisational, occupational, professional and personal roles and identities.

Results:

Gender differences were found in the configuration of their personal and occupational identities, a situation that is not replicated in their organisational and professional identities, which tend to be shared by both gendarmes and gendarmes.

Conclusions:

There are significant differences in the way in which gendarmes develop their personal identities, which lie mainly in the relevance they attribute to the roles and identities associated with family life. As for the remaining identity dimensions, important similarities were identified in terms of the values and beliefs that the subjects express and experience; these seem to be linked to traditional and conservative institutional gender practices and culture.

Scope:

The research is exploratory in nature and seeks to provide empirical background on which to base future research in this field.

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