FEMALE OFFICERS ON PATROL: PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS IN THE 1990'S

ABSTRACT

Prior research suggests that males and individuals with lower levels of education are less supportive of female police officers. This research found support for the education hypothesis. In regard to the various calls respondents were asked to consider, those who had attended college were more likely to support the equal effectiveness of males and females. Respondents with a high school degree or less were more likely to contend that males were more effective. This study suggests that the public may be more readily accepting of females as officers when questioned in a nonspecific context. However, when faced with specific situations officers respond to, some revert to stereotypical expectations of male and female characteristics. The challenge for police agencies is to devise strategies for changing the perceptions of those who have difficulty accepting females as fully functioning patrol officers. One strategy for changing inappropriate attitudes is the placement of more females in community policing situations where there is increased contact with the public. In this type of an environment, female officers can dispel the stereotypes associated with the traditional female gender role and demonstrate to the public that officer effectiveness is not determined by gender.