NCJ Number
80969
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1981) Pages: 463-474
Date Published
1981
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Findings and implications are presented from a survey of public attitudes toward policewomen.
Abstract
Participants in the study totaled 569 (233 men and 336 women). Questionnaires were distributed throughout two major New York cities on college campuses, in metropolitan office buildings, and at various other locations. College students were a major part of the sample (70 percent). The sampling at each site was random. Respondents were told that the purpose of the study was to investigate opinions on police actions. In the first part of the study, respondents were asked to read 11 hypothetical situations of police work and indicate the disciplinary action they would recommend for the police officer involved. Each story had an identical version involving policewomen rather than policemen. Questions related to attitudes toward working women and policewomen were also included. Female respondents were found to be more positive toward policewomen than were males, and overt attitudes toward policewomen correlated positively with general attitudes toward working women. While men judged policemen and policewomen equally on the covert measure, women were more lenient toward policewomen. Respondents from father-dominant families exhibited greater antiwoman attitudes than did respondents from mother-dominant families. Covert discrimination against policewomen was a function of overt attitudes toward women and policewomen for male respondents only. Because of the biases against women evidenced in the study, women should participate routinely in all supervisory and evaluation procedures. Suggestions are offered for future research in this area. Tabular data and 29 references are provided.