Rethinking the response of part-time professionals: the case of the part-time police officer

Despite marginalisation in the workplace, the part-time professional has been found to express acceptance towards their position. It has been suggested that the part-time professional chooses to prioritise non-work activities and is therefore untroubled by their marginal status. This paper however, adopts a social constructionist approach and considers the way in which choices are influenced by societal and discursive forces. This paper draws upon a study of female, part-time police officers and concludes that their acceptance may be part of the ongoing identity work of the part-time professional. Keywords: part-time professional, identity, discourse, subject position