NCJ Number
209727
Date Published
2005
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This chapter identifies the concepts of acceptance and respect and their connection to gender relations in the occupation of law enforcement and proposes a working conceptual model that can heighten the understanding of women’s occupational experience in law enforcement in the 21st century.
Abstract
In the workplace, the two words acceptance and respect are found to carry great weight in their world of civility among individuals, their peers, and the administration. Without either one of these, individuals will find it difficult to gain approval from the organization and its members. Today’s statistics on the status of women in policing indicate that women have not progressed in terms of promotion and rank. Factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, and sexuality might determine an individual’s success at “fitting in,” as well as affecting the individual’s career progression. Within this context, this chapter examines proving oneself by obtaining approval from the organization and culture, and the various levels of acceptance and respect as a measurement of women’s success of fitting in doing “male” police work. A Canadian study in 1997 of 25 women found that female officers compromised their identities to the “male” culture in order to gain the approval of the organization, administration, and male co-workers. Women in policing have special obstacles in achieving job satisfaction and continually struggle for approval from the organization and culture because their good cop status, if ever achieved, is not sacrosanct. This chapter attempts to contribute to an understanding of women’s marginal status in sworn law enforcement. Discussion questions and references