Train Women Separately From Men

• NCJ Number: 219581
• Journal: Law and Order Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 33,34,36,38,40,43
• Author(s): Kelly Keith; Charlotte Kratchmer
• Date Published: June 2007
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article explains the rationale and curriculum for separating men and women in the training provided at the Atlantic Police Academy.

Abstract

Because men and women differ physiologically, some training should be different for men and women in order to be as effective as possible. Although the goals of the training may be the same, tactics used by male and female officers may differ because of their different physical capabilities. Many officer safety principles--such as tactical communication, getting off the line of attack, and the "never give up" winning mindset--apply to both sexes, but female officers generally must rely more on tactics than brute force to achieve control in a resistance situation. Although male officers can sometimes use physical force to control a situation, women generally must use verbal and physical tactics as well as equipment that rely less on physical force to achieve control. Consequently, the separation of male and female police cadets in some training courses in safety and defense is more effective. After tactics and the use of equipment have been taught separately to men and women cadets based on their physiological differences, the course should be integrated so that women may be able to practice their gender-related tactics and techniques on men. There will also be occasions when physiological differences between male and female cadets will lead to slower learning for one of the genders. In such courses, it is best to separate the men and women so that the slower learning time will not cause one gender to lose confidence in their abilities when measured by the more rapid proficiency of the other gender. Integrated learning can resume when proficiency levels of both genders are closer to one another. The appropriate separation of genders for certain types of training has been well received by cadets at the Atlantic Police Academy.