NCJ Number
102245
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1986) Pages: 242-250
Date Published
1986
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This British study tested the hypothesis that male police officers holding a traditional view of women's social roles would hold more negative attitudes toward policewomen than male officers having a modern view of women's social roles.
Abstract
Questionnaires were administered to 28 officers attending the Intermediate Command Course at the Police Staff College and to 28 officers enrolled in the college's Special Course. The questionnaire elicited information on officer background characteristics, attitudes toward women's social roles, and attitudes toward policewomen. A cross-tabulation of officers' attitudes toward women's social roles and policewomen tentatively supports the hypothesis. An officer's education and his agency's geographic location did not significantly affect views of women and female officers. There was tentative evidence of a link between attitudes toward women's roles and attitudes toward policewomen's performance of traditionally female tasks, tasks involving violence, supervisory and administrative tasks, and other tasks apparently unrelated to sex. Officers with a traditional view of women's capabilities believed policewomen were less capable than policemen in all but traditionally female police tasks. 7 data tables.