This report provides a concept for the Dutch national police, in the form of a card game to reflect on humor within police base teams.

The graduation project was a collaboration with the Dutch national police, specifically the ‘Politie Voor Iedereen’ team, which focuses on improving diversity and inclusivity within the police force.
There is a recognized need for a diverse and inclusive police force, which requires effort as it is not naturally achieved. This project started with the specific focus on gender equity within the police culture; The current work culture within the police force does not fully support women. The primary objective of this project is to transform the work culture to promote diversity and inclusivity.

Two design lenses were utilized for this project. Cultural sensitive design was applied to research and to instigate change in the organization’s culture. The feminist lens was used to examine the existing power dynamics within the organization and to ensure fair outcomes.

Literature research was conducted to understand the experiences of policewomen, which was then compared to research conducted within two police base teams.
The presence of working women in the Netherlands, including within the police force, is a relatively recent development since the mid-20th century. Addressing disparities and achieving equal treatment for women within the police force required time and effort.
Police culture is undeniably masculine. The research highlights various themes indicating that individuals who do not conform to the prevailing masculine norm face exclusion and must adapt.

Eight interviews were conducted with police employees, and the insights, along with observation notes, were used for thematic data analysis.
The research findings revealed subtle difficulties related to gender equity, which were evident in the thematic analysis. Four themes were identified that could improve inclusivity and diversity, thereby providing better support for women within the organization.

The theme of humor was chosen as the focus. Although humor is an integral part of police work culture, it had not been extensively explored. Humor serves to discharge and process heavy incidents, as well as foster bonding between colleagues. However, humor can cross boundaries, as it is often dark and rough. Speaking up about humor that is experienced as offensive is not common. While workplace humor extends beyond gender inclusion, this theme presented opportunities for meaningful contributions.

The relationship between humor, gender, and the police was investigated through literature. Additionally, police humor was explored through a ‘probe cards’ test conducted at base teams. This activity revealed that there is little common ground when it comes to jokes and funny situations. What is considered offensive or funny is not determined by a norm within either of these base teams; humor is subjective and reactions vary greatly.

This led to the development of the ‘Politie humor kwartet’, a game for groups of police officers to reflect on humor within the police work environment. The concept has the potential to bring about structural change in the work culture surrounding humor, particularly in terms of behavior and speaking up about jokes that are experienced as offensive.