NCJ Number
82581
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1982) Pages: 31-39
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Findings and implications are presented from a survey to determine male police officers' views of their female counterparts.
Abstract
Data were obtained from a questionnaire administered to personnel in three law enforcement agencies in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Two metropolitan police departments and a sheriff's department were involved, giving a combined total of about 1,350 sworn officers, with 53 being females. A total of 826 questionnaires were completed (a return rate of 61 percent). Male officers generally believed that females are not physically strong enough or assertive enough to perform patrol functions adequately, particularly in potentially violent situations. The male officers tended to prefer males rather than females as partners and backups. Although the female respondents held much more favorable attitudes toward the adequacy of females in performing patrol functions, they, too, tended to view females as less able than males to perform adequately in violent situations. Officers with some college background tended to be more favorably disposed toward female officers. While experience with working with a female officer increased the proportion of favorable responses of male officers, it also increased the proportion of negative responses. Implications of these findings for police training are discussed. Seven references are listed.