NCJ Number
30934
Journal
Kriminalistik Volume: 29 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY, 1975) Pages: 303-305
Date Published
1975
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS SENT A QUESTIONNAIRE REGARDING THE USE OF WOMEN ON POLICE FORCES TO ALL WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THE U.S., JAPAN AND ISRAEL.
Abstract
THE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOWED THAT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN DOING CRIMINAL POLICE WORK VARIES FROM 0.5 TO 15 PERCENT AND THAT ALL THE COUNTRIES EXCEPTING SPAIN, ITALY AND SWITZERLAND GRANT POLICEWOMEN SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT. THOSE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS MOSTLY COMMAND UNITS MADE UP OF WOMEN. IN ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES DO ANY WOMEN COMMAND MIXED UNITS, AND SUCH CASES ARE EXCEPTIONAL. THE AUTHORS POINT OUT THAT THE TRADITIONAL POLICEWOMAN'S ROLE IS THAT OF DEALING WITH CHILDREN AND JUVENILES, HELPLESS WOMEN AND JUVENILE OR FEMALE VICTIMS OF CRIME. IT IS ALSO TRADITIONAL TO AVOID USING POLICEWOMEN WHERE VIOLENCE CAN BE EXPECTED. THE AUTHORS ARGUE FOR THE USE OF POLICEWOMEN FOR ALL TYPES OF POLICE WORK ON EXACTLY THE SAME BASIS AS MEN. THEY CITE THE OPINIONS OF GENETICISTS TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN TO WARRANT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST WOMEN IN JOB ASSIGNMENTS. THEY CLOSE BY STATING THAT NOT ALL WOMEN ARE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL POLICE JOBS, BUT THEN NEITHER ARE ALL MEN! --IN GERMAN