NCJ Number
113541
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1988) Pages: 29-38
Date Published
1988
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This analysis examines the history of the involvement of women in police work, the evaluation evidence regarding the performance of female police, the attitudes of male police and civilians toward female police, and the reasons for these attitudes.
Abstract
Early advocates for women in policing tended to argue that women had unique contributions to make in interacting with women and children and in other situations. The emphasis on uniqueness undercut arguments that could have been made and probably reinforced the early view that women were specialists not suited for general police work. Evaluation studies of women on police patrol show uniformly, however, that they can perform the job effectively. Nevertheless, studies of the attitudes of male police officers show that the men do not believe that the women can do the job. Public attitudes, however, are generally favorable. The most commonly accepted explanations of the attitudes of male police officers involve cultural values about sex roles and work. However, a more useful approach is based on Sullivan's interpersonal theory. This theory is consistent with the cultural explanation, but it shows how the attitudes are learned in childhood and maintained as adults to avoid the anxiety aroused by female police. Changes in these attitudes will probably come only as a result of changes in cultural values over time. 66 references.