Gender and Policing (From Women, Crime, and Criminal Justice: Original Feminist Readings, P 255-263, 2001, Claire Renzetti and Lynne Goodstein, eds. -- See NCJ-197570)

• NCJ Number: 197587
• Author(s): Susan L. Miller
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Roxbury Publishing Co.
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter examines how gender -- as well as race and ethnicity, social class, and sexual orientation -- affect policing, both historically and currently.

Abstract

Patriarchal societies that have relegated women to certain social and economic roles deemed suitable for their physical abilities and psychological temperaments have made it difficult for women to enter the occupation of policing. Policing is traditionally viewed as one of the prime occupations that requires masculine physical abilities and psychological "toughness." Although laws that mandate equal opportunity for various groups that might experience discrimination in job hiring have helped to increase the number of women and minorities in policing jobs, generations of attitudes toward the capabilities of women in a patriarchal society continue to hinder the acceptance of women as equal partners with men in the policing profession. Any manifestation of accommodation to physical limitations of female officers by the police organization is resented by male officers. This chapter argues that police services are enhanced by the inclusion in the police ranks of the diversity of the populations being served by the police. Sensitivity to the needs and conditions of minority citizens is heightened when police officers themselves are from minority groups and backgrounds; and female officers tend to be sensitive to the particular needs of female victims and offenders. The newest trend in policing is known as community policing. This approach emphasizes the development of trust, cooperation, familiarity, and appreciation between police and community residents. This approach is associated with female gender roles and attributes rather than the traditional paramilitary masculine approach to policing. As more women make inroads into the policing occupation and challenge the rigidity of past gender roles associated with policing, all police officers will benefit from innovative and creative alternatives to "macho" mindsets and inflexible police behavior. 46 references and 5 discussion questions