Silence in the sexual agenda of a UK probation service

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to interrogate ways in which sex and sexual orientation are excluded from the agenda of work relationships in one probation service. The research was conducted through conversational interviews with members of a team responsible both for supervision of colleagues and for development of supervisory practice. Straight and lesbian officers responded to a perceived lack of skills to effectively “work with” sexuality issues. Responses lead to discussion of the discursive “silence” of sex, and to the specific positioning of lesbian identity. Specifically, it critiques approaches to supervision that do not explicitly value lesbian experience. This small study does not include the voices of black or gay male officers. It also does not explore the experience of bisexuality. The finding of this research can be used to support development of good supervisory practice. The paper sheds light on day to day interactions that “silence” experience of sexual orientation. The paper draws on original research interrogating both lesbian and straight experience. In so doing it sheds light on both discursive practices of a sexual agenda and practice issues in supervision.