Defeminization of Women in Law Enforcement: Examining the Role of Women in Policing (From Police and Law Enforcement, P 159-171, 1987, Daniel B Kennedy and Robert J Homant, eds. -- See NCJ-112250)

• NCJ Number: 112258
• Author(s): B L Berg; K J Budnick
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: AMS Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis considers the existing research on the role of women in law enforcement and their adjustment to what has traditionally been a male-dominated occupation and proposes topics for future research.

Abstract

Research has focused on the work activities of female line officers and on gender-based occupational stereotypes. Research by Heffner has indicated that masculine characteristics are perceived as beneficial for patrol officers regardless of their gender. Martin has noted that female police officers respond to the dilemmas of tokenism either by taking on traditional masculine characteristics or functioning as junior partners to male officers. As a result, they often either limit their careers or are seen as a career threat by male officers. Some women enter law enforcement already predisposed to conduct themselves in a masculine manner, while others have no predisposition. Regardless of her ultimate decision, a female officer will be placed under enormous pressure by her peers and instructors to make some choice about her policing style. Future research should focus on whether defeminization helps or hinders patrol work, the sources of defeminization, and the extent of role strain among female police officers. Table, chart, and 54 references.