The origins of women in the police force can be traced
all the way back to 1845 with the hiring of two female matrons in the New York
City jails (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). Although these two longed
to be actual patrol officers, this objective was shot down by the city. It was
not until 1893 that the first actual female police officer was hired in the
United States (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). Undoubtedly, the
Chicago Police Department’s unprecedented hiring of Mary Owens paved the way
for women to enter the police force. And even though a number of obstacles
still stand in the way, police departments nationwide are becoming increasingly
diversified with many women joining the forces.
In the early 1900s, much of the work that was referred to as police work for women would contemporarily more closely align with social work. Nonetheless, the designation of police officer was still given to the women who held these types of positions. Further pushing along the assimilation of women into the law enforcement sector, the International Association of Policewomen was established in 1915 (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013).
Despite these early advancements for women, the Great Depression in the 1930s greatly halted their progress. Many of the women who formerly held roles within the police force were pressured to offer up their positions to men as the economy was suffering and countless men were out of work (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). The women who did manage to hold on to their positions in the police force were largely relegated to serving more as secretaries because the men took over the “crime fighting” duties (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013).
It was not until the early 1960s that women in the police forced really started to reemerge and prosper (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). This is when they finally began to fully integrate with men into the police force. Furthermore, with the passing of Title VII by Congress, discrimination against women in public agencies became illegal (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). But even still, it was estimated that women only comprised about two percent of officers in police departments in the United States in 1972 (Shelly et al., 2011). Comparatively, they made up approximately 11.3 percent of police officers as of 2011 (Shelly et al., 2011).
Presently, even though it may seem as much progress has been made for women in law enforcement, there is still a huge disparity in the amount of positions held by men and the policies that are specifically aimed to hire and promote men over their female counterparts. For instance, as of 2011, more than half of the agencies in America reported that no women within their departments hold positions of authority (Shelly et al., 2011). Additionally, less than 20 percent of these departments employ recruitment strategies that are specifically aimed to bring women on board (Shelly et al., 2011).
In summation, while strides have been made for women in the police force, many factors have hindered their progress along the way. Among other things, “academy training, field training, patrolling, marriage, parenting, early retirement, or injuries” have contributed to the staggering success of women joining and sustaining positions as police officers (Shelly et al., 2011). The male-dominated culture of police work has also been considered a major drawback to women in law enforcement. Harassment and offensive humor has been a common complaint among many female officers relating to their high levels of discomfort working alongside male officers (Shelly et al., 2011). Much hostility and resentment toward female officers often stemming from their male colleagues’ concern for their own job sustainability within police departments have also been readily observed and experienced by police women (Shelly et al., 2011).
In the early 1900s, much of the work that was referred to as police work for women would contemporarily more closely align with social work. Nonetheless, the designation of police officer was still given to the women who held these types of positions. Further pushing along the assimilation of women into the law enforcement sector, the International Association of Policewomen was established in 1915 (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013).
Despite these early advancements for women, the Great Depression in the 1930s greatly halted their progress. Many of the women who formerly held roles within the police force were pressured to offer up their positions to men as the economy was suffering and countless men were out of work (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). The women who did manage to hold on to their positions in the police force were largely relegated to serving more as secretaries because the men took over the “crime fighting” duties (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013).
It was not until the early 1960s that women in the police forced really started to reemerge and prosper (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). This is when they finally began to fully integrate with men into the police force. Furthermore, with the passing of Title VII by Congress, discrimination against women in public agencies became illegal (“A History of Women in Policing,” 2013). But even still, it was estimated that women only comprised about two percent of officers in police departments in the United States in 1972 (Shelly et al., 2011). Comparatively, they made up approximately 11.3 percent of police officers as of 2011 (Shelly et al., 2011).
Presently, even though it may seem as much progress has been made for women in law enforcement, there is still a huge disparity in the amount of positions held by men and the policies that are specifically aimed to hire and promote men over their female counterparts. For instance, as of 2011, more than half of the agencies in America reported that no women within their departments hold positions of authority (Shelly et al., 2011). Additionally, less than 20 percent of these departments employ recruitment strategies that are specifically aimed to bring women on board (Shelly et al., 2011).
In summation, while strides have been made for women in the police force, many factors have hindered their progress along the way. Among other things, “academy training, field training, patrolling, marriage, parenting, early retirement, or injuries” have contributed to the staggering success of women joining and sustaining positions as police officers (Shelly et al., 2011). The male-dominated culture of police work has also been considered a major drawback to women in law enforcement. Harassment and offensive humor has been a common complaint among many female officers relating to their high levels of discomfort working alongside male officers (Shelly et al., 2011). Much hostility and resentment toward female officers often stemming from their male colleagues’ concern for their own job sustainability within police departments have also been readily observed and experienced by police women (Shelly et al., 2011).