NCJ Number
145993
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1993) Pages: 90-98
Date Published
1993
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The author reviews the history of women in American policing.
Abstract
Although Alice Stebbins Wells became the first "policewoman" when she joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1910, she was not the first woman to serve as a law enforcement officer. In 1893, Mary Owens, the widow of a Chicago policeman, was given powers of arrest, as a form of pension. However, as early as 1845, women worked as matrons in jails, and, by the 1870's, in police departments. These matrons and the early policewomen created a specialized, gendered role for themselves in policing, working primarily with juveniles and other women. After World War II, policewomen began a progression that ultimately led to the gender-neutral role and title of police officer. The revolution is not yet complete, however, as women police officers, especially those of minority status, face special difficulties in getting promoted, and are commonly harassed by peers and supervisors. Thus, many issues must be resolved in order for legal equality to translate into a fully integrated police force. 43 endnotes