Empowering women in South African law enforcement: Developing authenticity as best-self

Abstract

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the authenticity experiences of South African women in law enforcement from a best-self perspective. Narrative interviews were conducted with 12 women from police and traffic services, aged between 26 and 55 (25% black, 58% mixed race and 17% white). Using thematic analysis, three themes were generated, namely, developing self-awareness, growing self-determination, and practising self-appraisal. By developing their self-awareness, they engaged in a self-reflective recognition of negative stress responses and realised alternative responses. Growing self-determination denotes consciously and actively applying best-self enhancing strategies to realign with the best-self. The women said to consistently apply self-appraisal to assess and confirm congruence with the best-self. The findings suggest three self-processing elements that are key to authenticity development. Opportunities to engage in authenticity development interventions aimed at empowering women should focus on sense of realignment with the best-self.