Women In Law Enforcement

Throughout the United States, women were minorities in Law Enforcement. Women have been in policing for over 150 years and, despite strong resistance by those within the male-dominated field and public opinion, have challenged traditional and stereotypical perceptions of “authentic” police officers; women have used their talents and abilities in policing to prove their capacity as viable police officers. For example, Alice Stebbin Wells was the first women to be called a policewomen in the Los Angeles Police Department in 1910. Though there has been disagreements as to who was the ‘first’ women officer in the U.S, these women pushed to get opportunities for pursuing a career in law enforcement and their efforts caused inroads in the struggle
A married women with a job was seen as “wrongfully taking a job away from a man who needed it to support his family.” Another major time period that impacted women’s career aspirations was during the World War II. More women were hired to auxiliary work, but those who joined the police force were there to assist new men employment. Women worked as dispatches or clerical workers within the departments, whereas men still patrolled and worked crime fighters. Women were still being treated unequally, they were primely helpers to the men. After the war in 1950, the number of women on the law enforcement had increased. It became more encouraging soon after some women brought about a change in how women police officers saw their advancement in the profession. They wanted to work in the same department with men, and doing equivalent work. This time period saw the re-establishment of the International Association of women police and an increase for the profession as a career rather than a social worker. All these changes led to greater demands for equal treatment and opportunities for women police
Not only do they want females in law enforcement, departments are doing the effort of going out to specifically recruit female officers.
The Future of Women in Policing Differences among male and female police officers may become less pronounced as more women enter this traditionally male dominated profession. Presumably, an increase in the presence of female officers will normalize perceptions of them among their male colleagues. The socialization process that is experienced by police officers could also be changing as a result of more women entering the field. An increased presence of women may begin to erode what has traditionally been an ‘‘all boys club.’’ The emphasis on community policing over the last few decades might also contribute to the similarities among male and female police officers as it has reshaped the role of police officers. The traditional model of policing is based heavily on the image of police officers acting in the role of ‘‘crime fighters.’’ This is a role that is based on more masculine traits. Community policing is supposed to quell the crime fighting image by placing a greater emphasis on collaboration and partnerships with citizens. It is important to point out that these