NCJ Number
47711
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TRACED, AND LITERATURE DOCUMENTING CHANGES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE USE OF FEMALE OFFICERS IN TRADITIONALLY MALE ROLES IS REVIEWED.
Abstract
THE 1880 CAMPAIGN OF THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION OFTEN IS CREDITED WITH BRINGING ABOUT THE USE OF FEMALE OFFICERS (PRIMARILY AS POLICE MATRONS WITHOUT FORMAL POLICE POWERS) IN MANY PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I, ACCEPTANCE OF WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS GAINED GROUND AS A RESULT OF FEMINIST MOVEMENTS AND OF THE SPECIAL ROLE POLICEMEN WITH SOCIAL WORK BACKGROUNDS WERE CONSIDERED TO PLAY IN CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE 1930'S AND THE LATE 1960'S WAS ONE OF RELATIVE STAGNATION IN WHICH FEW ADVANCES IN THE USE OF POLICEWOMEN WERE MADE. IN 1969, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN POLICE WAS ESTABLISHED. A FEW LARGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS BEGAN TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF FEMALE OFFICERS ON ROUTINE PATROL. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T UNTIL THE EARLY 1970'S THAT A MARKED CHANGES IN POLICE POLICIES AND PRACTICES (RECRUITMENT, ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, ETC.) TOOK PLACE. FACTORS THAT PLAYED A PART IN CHANGING AGENCY TREATMENT OF POLICEWOMEN INCLUDED LEGAL AND SOCIAL FORCES, CHANGES IN FEDERAL POLICIES, THE WIDESPREAD USE OF WOMEN AS UNDERCOVER OPERATIVES IN DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE EXPERIENCES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES (ISRAEL, GERMANY, JAPAN, GREAT BRITAIN) WITH THE USE OF FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS. STUDIES SUGGEST THAT AGENCY POLICIES REGARDING THE ASSIGNMENT OF WOMEN TO PATROL DUTY ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE MAJORITY OF MALE OFFICERS. IN ADDITION TO SEXISM, FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ATTITUDES OF MALE OFFICERS MAY INCLUDE THE TENDENCY TO FEEL THAT WOMEN HAVE A SPECIAL, RATHER THAN AN EQUAL, ROLE TO PLAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE LACK OF HARD DATA ON THE PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE OFFICERS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)