NCJ Number
246774
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2014 Pages: 449-468
Date Published
May 2014
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Using data from a survey conducted with 278 female police officers in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), this study assessed their attitudes toward women in policing and their preferred gender role in police work.
Abstract
Just over 90 percent of the sampled policewomen reported having very high confidence in their ability to perform their policing tasks. Although 60 percent of the police women "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that police women should perform all of the same duties as male officers, 81 percent still preferred specialized duties, which involve interactions with female victims, women offenders, and children. The study also found that policewomen assigned to patrol or criminal investigation responsibilities were more likely to have positive appraisals of women in policing compared to women assigned to desk work. Police women assigned to criminal investigations were more likely to favor full gender integration in police work and to accept the same duties as men. Policewomen who had achieved a higher educational level were less likely to accept gender-restricted assignments. Background information on Dubai's cultural milieu notes that women in Dubai are encouraged to pursue higher education and careers in various fields. Since the first group of 17 women joined the Dubai Police Force in 1977, the number of women entering the police profession has increased. Currently, just over 1,400 policewomen work in Dubai. 3 tables and 68 references