NCJ Number
144650
Journal
Women and Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 5-30
Date Published
1993
Length
26 pages
Annotation
The 1950's, contrary to the belief of many modern feminists, was a period of growth for policewomen in the United States, not only in numbers (an increased of 3,000) but also in degree of responsibility.
Abstract
The decade marked the first such growth since World War I. In 1960, the number of policewomen was twice that in 1950 and almost equal to the cumulative total in the 50 years since Alice Stebbins Wells became the first policewoman in 1910. This activity foreshadowed later developments that led policewomen out of a specialized, gender-based role and into a genderless, general assignment one. Women first went on uniform patrol in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The 1972 amendment to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act empowered the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce antidiscrimination laws on State and local government agencies (including police departments), providing legal support for the demands policewomen had been expressing for many years. Women bring to the job qualities that are particularly feminine¦most notably a highly developed interest in human relationships¦yet, as many policewomen recall, such beneficial qualities often led to alienation and frustration. 51 endnotes