The Womens Role in Law Enforcement - Case Study Example

Women in law enforcement Unlike her the unfortunate Rose’s Fortune found slavery in her share when she first came out of her mother’s womb in 1774 in Virginia. A slave to Devone family and belonging to the lot of Black Loyalists, she was brought to Annapolis Royal, a town of Nova Scotia (Canada), from New York when her family absconded. The police department of Annapolis Royal, near northern Nova Scotia, became Fortune’s first workplace during her late twenties or early thirties. In 1893, policewomen were made equipped with the same authorities as that of policemen. Even though they were affiliated with this depart since 1845 as matrons in the New York City Police Department, but it took them almost half a century to come at par with males in this field. The name of Mrs. Marie Owens, a policeman’s widow, got the honor of being written as the first policewoman in the history of the Chicago Police Department. Her selection was made by the Mayor of Chicago who broke the ice by taking this initiative (Rowland, 2004). The official title of “First Policewoman” came to the share of Mrs. Alice Stebbins Wells of Los Angeles, California in 1910, but that too not effortlessly. Although a graduate theology student and social worker, she had to appeal to the Mayor with numerous major signatures to earn this position. Mrs. Wells got the privilege of introducing laws for the safety of the youth. Owing to her consistent performance as a policewoman, she was further assigned with a number of tasks including implementing rules and regulations in recreational centers specifically dominant by the younger lot and females; dance halls, skating rinks, penny arcades, movie theaters being some of them (Rowland, 2004). It will not be wrong to entitle Mrs. Wells as the ‘mother’ of the framework of the existing departments and institutions for women rights and protection. Her persistent effort in encouraging active female involvement in safeguarding women and children is what lead to this stature. Since then women’s role in this division has experienced a number of major developments, no less than a revolution. However, much toil was required to achieve these sometimes (Rowland, 2004). In 1891, the first Police Matrons were employed for the protection of the female arrests. This step was the outcome of the mutual efforts of various women’s organizations. As time passed, the number of women in the police department kept on the rise. They were finally hired and recognized as “Policewoman.” What they required for qualification was a college degree. Although their primary responsibility was social welfare, yet many Policewomen took up the positions of Detectives and C.I.D officers (Wrobleski & Hess, 2005). Since 1960’s, the professional careers of women are constantly spreading its wings in all fields. Especially, they have been able to make their mark in the enforcement of law and order. The dual effect of communal and legal transformation has broadened the horizons for women. In Criminal justice, particularly, their participation was 2 percent during the 70s. The fraction has only increased by 10 at present (Wrobleski & Hess, 2005). The title given to the newly inducted policewomen by NYC Police Department in 1845 were "matrons." Penny Harrington, member of Portland Oregon Police Department, got the honor of becoming the first policewomen in the capacity of chief after a year. Even though the male dominance is waning, and the approach of the sector improving, yet certain organizational behavior problems have not entirely expired (Wrobleski & Hess, 2005). A share of merely 12.7 percent of sworn law enforcement positions came to the share of women during 2004, and that too in larger organizations. Not only this, it has been on the decline ever since. Even though females make 46.5 of the labor, the rate of sworn officers is even lower in smaller firms; hardly 10 in majority of firms in States. Many factors contribute to this decline in the career of women in this specific field (Wrobleski & Hess, 2005). Biased recruitment and selection policies and unprofessional hiring processes do not let the number of female employees boost. Researches prove that women possess the same potential as men, but these malpractices do not provide them with fair platforms. On the basis of certain entry tests pertaining to physical straight and experience in military service, women fail to even qualify in the initial stages (Heidensohn, 1996). In the light of various factors including false impression of job requirements, the negative image illustrated in Medias, women are not much enthusiastic and interested to be a part of this herd. Those who do get into, by choice or chance, encounter a numerous of problems like inequality and sexual harassment. Nevertheless, they do not even find role models or mentors coach them up to the hierarchy. Those whose priority is family or relationships do not crave for promotions thus not even appearing for exams (Heidensohn, 1996). These factors never let women excel or their numbers outgrow; the motivation to recruit or retain dies out. The recent transformations in the polices of police have fortunately highlighted gave malpractices and unjust incidents. These policies have stressed upon the need of problem solving thus unmasking these biting realties. The corruption scandals associate with male members of the unit and their extensive force and corruption scandals are resulting in grave disbursements in court cases (Heidensohn, 1996). Owing to the varying approach of policewomen of utilizing more of their communication than physical skills, the possibilities of severe situations or brawls is curtailed; complaints and social pressures fewer consequently. These facts clearly speak of the connotation of having meager participation of the female members in the field. The entire country suffers due to the negative impact proliferated by the feeble representation of women in police department in the present modern arena. It definitely affects the culture, effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies as well. The urgency if employing more females in police is mounting keeping in view the countless challenges faced by the concerned organizations (Rowland, 2004). Male chauvinism has always been one of the key blockages for women seeking a career in police. They cultivate numerous psychological hurdles in the way of women. Men look down upon them believing them to be a misfit for this job. They do not consider them to be at par with men owning to their weak physical and emotional strengths. There is varying approach towards women; race, age and educational background being the conflicting attitudes (Rowland, 2004). White officers were observed to be lesser favorable than Black. Interestingly, in St. Louis, it was surveyed that younger and better-educated officers extended positive approach or not as negative as the rest. On the other hand, the male officers in Atlanta straightforwardly displayed disapproval of women. The resistance and opposition of men has always been a the major bottleneck for policewomen. Many researchers also agree with this perspective and added that men actual caused all these problems for them owing to their own fear of leaking out of their corruption and violence activates (Rowland, 2004). The scenario in Europe, Asia and Latin America is the identical to States, and as documented in the research reports. Backed by the European Network of Policewomen, a workshop on the ‘role of women in uniform’ was conducted in Amsterdam during an international conference on women and police force. This platform provided women in uniforms from about twenty countries to express and share their experiences regarding the biased treatment they receive by the male staff (Rowland, 2004). Women face many social inconveniences in society when it comes to policing- including the negative attitudes of men towards women. The problems inherent are the family responsibilities, the constant struggle and strain about competence and self-assessment, ordeals regarding sexual and the accompanied fear of complaining about the abuse .Not only this they also face problems regarding the facilities provided for example the conditions of the materials of uniforms, patrol car seats and locker rooms. In addition to all this black women police officers remain under constant stress as they face additional conflicts by being both black and a women police officer. Hence choosing a career of working in a police department by women became extremely difficult in both organizational and role relating placement (Heidensohn, 1996). More than ever before now the policing is being taken up in large numbers by the racial minorities and women demonstrating equality to white men .The increase in the proportion does not however signify any change in the environment provided at job, the type of work, the treatment of co-workers, rewards, internal support for career development or promotion. The purpose of the recent research was to analyze these issues. The women were interviewed and their responses helped in providing significant statistical data, which supported the uneven distribution of women in the police department to the height of their being insignificant to nonexistent in the special units. This problem is faced by women in general and does not target any race. Hence both the races face the problem of discrimination when it comes to policing (Heidensohn, 1996). The Important deductions are: (a) Women choose the profession of police because it provides them with financial security, and this security is doubled in the case of black women, they also choose the profession by motivation which is generally provided by family and friends and this holds truer for the white women. (b) Black women training to police work prior to their employment opportunities led them to take active interest and chose the profession. (c) Problems relating to the previous assignment were often acknowledged as a forerunner to requesting assignment to the police academy than was the desire for a steady day shift (d) Job satisfaction was easily attainable through academy assignments. (e) Majority of the women were preparing for their promotional exams. (f) All women were of the view point that discrimination definitely existed in the police department. (g)The domination of males in the policing department hinders career satisfaction and goals. Social scientists are facing the conflict of whether any changes born to the structure, techniques or behavior can contribute to bringing about any social change. It can be argued that in order to minimize gender discrimination these changes these changes be worked upon in harmony. This holds true not only for the policing but as well as other occupations and aspects of our day to day lives. It is however significantly evident that the structural changes have brought upon a rather large influx of women in the male dominated police departments in the United States (Schulz, 2004). In 1970’s when the policing, as departments expanded , there was a statistical increase of black and white women police officers which was a result of approved actions favoring them. Despite this the urban fiscal problems led to the wide scale removal of women and also the minorities in the labor force. As a large number of women are placed in the lowest department of the police hence the structural and behavioral problems faced by the women is more challenging. It is thought by some people that time would eventually phase out all these problems gradually while others note that the problem is a persistent one and would always remain regarding promotions, salaries, benefits, security, etc. Gender discrimination is purely a matter of behavioral and attitudinal change whereas the organization and how it responds is purely a structural change. Works Cited: Heidensohn, F. (1996). Women in Control?: The Role of Women in Law Enforcement. Oxford University Press. Rowland, D. (2004). The Boundaries of Her Body: The Troubling History of Womens Rights in America. Sphinx Pub. Schulz, D. M. (2004). Breaking the Brass Ceiling: Women Police Chiefs and Their Paths to the Top. Praeger Publishers. Wrobleski, H. M. & Hess, K. M. (2005). Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. 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