“Should females expect to be sexually harassed in male dominated fields (ex military, police )? Should females accept this treatment as the norm or should they report it and then hope their careers doesn’t suffer as a result. Why or why not? Would you report it if it happened to you?”
Women and the Criminal Justice System
CHAPTER
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Women in Law Enforcement
11
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Themes of the Chapter
Challenges to women in the field
Policing as highly masculine, action-oriented
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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History of Women in Policing
Women first hired through jail reform, prison matrons
1845: New York hired police matrons
Women’s help needed to work with prostitutes
Alice Stebbins Wells first policewoman
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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History continued
Opposition to women in policing from within the police ranks
Second generation of policewoman
Well educated
Desired more equal roles on the force
Impact of EEOC on recruiting practices
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Women in Policing
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Women in Policing continued
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Women in Policing continued
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Barriers to Women in Policing
Damaging stereotypes by general public
Sexual harassment
Isolation
Harsh standard evaluations at work
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Barriers to Women in Policing continued
Males get more highly valued dangerous assignments
Many discrimination lawsuits of harassment
Lesbian officers experience more discrimination based on gender than sexual orientation
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Comparison Male and Female Performance
Women handle these aspects of policing as well as men:
Crime-fighting
Peacekeeping
Combat
Patrol
Social service aspects
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Comparison Male and Female Performance continued
Women show more restraint in using weapons.
Women have a higher turnover rate than men.
Consider how women officers used their special knowledge to help in the search for kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard.
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Statistics
Around 32% of officers, Madison, WI, are women but only around 13% on average nationwide are women.
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
African American Officers
Receive less protective treatment than whites
High turnover rate
Discuss Box 11.5, an interview with an African American campus police officer
Martin, S. E. (1994, August). “Outsider within” the station house: The impact of race and gender on black women police. Social Problems 41: 383–384, 389.
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Career Paths
PoliceWOMEN (more feminine) vs. POLICEwomen (focus on professionalism, not service)
Women need to develop their own supportive network
Superior interpersonal skills helps women handle stress
Police women report dating problems due to shifts, image
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Sexual Harassment Cases
The first case, in 1972, looked at the work environment
Quid pro quo cases
Hostile work environment
“Reasonable woman” standard
Women and the Criminal Justice System, 4e
Katherine van Wormer and Clemens Bartollas
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Conclusion
Women fulfill essential roles in policing.
The barriers that women face in policing are greater than those in other areas of criminal justice.
Many have overcome the barriers to lead successful professional lives.