NCJ Number
220616
Journal
Women & Criminal Justice Volume: 18 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 107-130
Date Published
2006
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study examined the differences between Taiwanese and American female officers’ attitudes toward co-workers, promotion, and citizens.
Abstract
Findings showed that Taiwanese and American women police differ in their attitudes toward co-workers, promotions, and citizens. The Taiwanese female officers displayed occupational outlooks that distinguished them from their American counterparts. The cross-national differences were most evident in female officers’ attitudes toward citizens; Taiwanese women police were more critical of citizens than their American counterparts. Taiwanese women police were more likely than their American counterparts to have friends in their work units, but less willing to share information with co-workers; and they were found more likely than American women police to consider promotion an important issue in their career. Data used in this research were collected using a survey questionnaire used by the Projects on Policing Neighborhoods (POPN) in the United States; for the purpose of a cross-national comparison, approximately 50 survey items were selected from the POPN questionnaire, translated to Chinese and administered in two Taiwanese cities: Taipei City and Kaohsiung City. The Taiwanese sample consisted of 119 female officers. The American sample included 110 female officers from two American cities: Indianapolis, IN, and St. Petersburg, FL. More attitudinal dimensions should be considered in future research which should uncover factors that better account for variation in women police’s attitudes across nations. Multi-level studies that incorporate both aggregate and individual-level predictors should be used to broaden understanding of micro and macro factors that influence women police’s occupational attitudes. Limitations of this study and implications for future research are discussed. Tables, references