NCJ Number
93327
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (1983) Pages: 217-229
Date Published
1983
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A study of the performance of and attitudes toward females involved in policing in Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachments in the area of the lower mainland of British Columbia indicates that their performance is acceptable and comprehensive compared to males; the major problems are attrition among female officers and negative attitudes of male officers toward the female officers.
Abstract
A 1979 study of the performance of female officers in the lower mainland of British Columbia used questionnaires, structured observation, interviews and surveys of police officials, dispatcher interviews, female and matched male interviews, an examination of dispatch records, and record monitoring. Overall, the performance of women officers appears to be acceptable. Supervisors' evaluations of male and female officers are virtually identical, and there are no significant differences in the types of calls handled by men and women. The morale of both male and female officers is quite high, as is the degree of job satisfaction. The major areas of difficulty are attrition rates among female officers and the negative attitudes of male officers toward female officers. Another part of the study indicates that changes might be made in transfer and recruiting policies so as to increase the retention of female officers. Despite the apparent similarity in the abilities and styles of female officers in comparison to male officers, the males still resist the assignment of women to patrol duties. They particularly object to females being used to handle calls requiring physical strength. Evidence does not support grounds for such attitudes, so it may be that increased exposure to female competencies in patrol functions will change such attitudes. Tabular data and 11 bibliographic entries are provided.