Track Changes Final Draft

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Hannah Luke

Instructor: Malcolm Campbell

English 1103

06 November 12

Working in a Man’s World: Women in Law Enforcement

What image comes into your mind when you think police officer? Some might imagine

Officer Tall, Dark, and Handsome all decked out in badge and guns (both muscles and firearm).

Others see morbidly obese men, inhaling donuts behind the steering wheel of a police cruiser, as

the buttons of their uniform shirt sit on the edge of busting because they are so tight. How many

people will imagine a woman, pristinely dressed in her pressed uniform with a gun on her hip

and polished badge on her chest? I can guarantee that is not the first image to come to mind. As

a future female police officer, I wonder if people take one look at me and question if I have what

it takes, simply because I have two X chromosomes. After over one hundred years of women

working in law enforcement, are the obstacles as large as they used to be for females? I am

curious about today’s world and if the stereotypes and misconceptions about women in law

enforcement still dominate people’s opinions like they used to.

Daddy’s Girl

I grew up the daughter of a sheriff’s deputy. Living in the world of law enforcement was

my normal everyday life. My dad drove off to work each day in his cruiser and I would wait in

the driveway each night just so I could see him flash his blue lights and blare his siren for me.

My extended family consisted of every other deputy in the department, both men and women

alike. However, I will acknowledge I rarely saw very many female officers. A majority of the

officers employed by the Union County Sheriff’s Office were and still are men. Not only did I

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Hannah Luke� 12/4/12 12:02 PMDeleted: If someone asks a little girl what she wants to be when she grows up, or asks a woman what she does for a living, few expect the response, “I want to be a police officer” or “I work for a law enforcement agency”. One of two reactions will take place after hearing such a bold statement. More often than not the questioning party will experience a small shock. Eyes will bulge, awkward silences will take place, and finally they will stutter out an insincere, “Really? That’s great!” while secretly imagining Barbie dolls dressed in police uniforms or hoards of lesbians carting guns around on their hips. Option number two consists of encouraging statements and awe because some people view working in law enforcement as an honorable profession. Personally I have experienced both shocked and heartfelt reactions to my future career choice. Hannah Luke� 12/1/12 2:44 PMFormatted: Font:Bold

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see few female officers while growing up, but I also heard stories from my dad about several that

did little to help prevent the stereotypes many people have about women in law enforcement

from rearing their ugly heads. I heard about women that were lesbians, many that took on a

tough, manly exterior while on duty, others that would not be caught dead getting their hands

dirty for the risk of breaking a nail, and several that failed to prove they knew the difference

between a crime and a hole in the wall. Truthfully, these women are not the majority

representation for females in the male dominated world of police work. These women create a

barrier that make it difficult for so many others to prove that women are just as worthy of

wearing a badge and gun as the next guy.

Leading in the Testosterone Filled Pool

When I started high school I joined the JROTC program my freshman year. Participating

in a military based program was a complete culture shock. I threw myself into the deep end of

the testosterone filled pool and surprisingly swam like I had been doing it my whole life. I

became enamored with the structure and discipline of my JROTC unit and loved moving up

through the ranks and taking on new responsibilities. I loved leading, wearing the uniform, and

representing something bigger than myself. However, working my way to the top was not an

easy task. I had to work harder than most to prove I belonged there. The males in the unit were

not my only obstacles, but I will admit making them see me as a leader took time and

perseverance. Surprisingly, the most challenging people I faced were the other females in the

group. Physically I was not the strongest person, which gave the impression I was generally

weak. The other girls did their best to walk all over me and the guys attempted to go behind my

back whenever they could. Facing the resistance of my fellow cadets only made me fight back

harder. By my senior year I was the cadet commanding officer of my unit and had the respect of

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my peers. I saw how being a female in a male dominated environment presented challenges, but

I also saw how important it was to show that a girl could hold her own and provide a new point

of view. Sun Valley had the highest score on their annual military inspection in the history of

the JROTC program the year I commanded the unit. I presented a new leadership style based on

communication between ranks rather than a dictatorial one. After all the turmoil I faced those

four years of high school and everything I learned about how to handle working predominantly

around males, I began to consider following in my dad’s footsteps.

Be Informed, Differences Matter

Starting this inquiry project made me question just how many problems and struggles I

will face in the “real world” after college when I enter into my career. Are the judgments that

existed decades ago still relevant today? As a current criminal justice major at the University of

North Carolina at Charlotte I believe it is important to expose the stereotypes,

misunderstandings, and stories of past and present female officers. This essay is not meant to be

a cry for the feminist movement that women deserve equal rights. Women have equal

opportunities when it comes to employment. A woman honorably serving her community and

country in the field of law enforcement exists in today’s world. No one prevents females from

working in a male dominated environment like policing. Sergeant Betsy Smith, a thirty-year law

enforcement veteran from Chicago, states, “Ignoring differences between men and women in the

police profession often stems from a misguided attempt to ‘treat everyone equally’” (1). There

are differences between men and women. For example, “male leaders tend to connect in short

bursts, a quick pat on the back or a word of praise, while female leaders tend to emphasize

lengthy verbal encouragement” (2). The differences between men and women are what make it

important to have an equal balance of both in all sorts of jobs. My hope is that by addressing the



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issues surrounding women in law enforcement and the challenges they face, along with the

differences between men and women, will allow people to become more informed, therefore

encouraging them to move past their judgments and accept the truth that women can “rock” a

uniform too.

Got Discrimination?

Gender discrimination is defined as “all forms of differentiation, exclusion, or limitation,

made without any justifiable reason on the basis of one’s sex, in the recognition, enjoyment or

exercise of basic human rights in any political, economic, social, and cultural sectors” (Gender

Discrimination Prevention and Relief Act 1). Unfortunately in the 21st century gender

discrimination lives thanks to the uninformed opinions of many individuals and groups. June

Werdlow Rogers, a writer for the group, WIFLE, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, states

that recently a firearm was found in a restroom stall at the Detroit Metro Airport. The weapon

was in fact one that belonged to a federal law enforcement officer, but the Transportation

Security Administration would not report whether it was found in a male or female restroom (1).

Why should it matter whether a man or woman forgot to gather all their equipment after going to

the bathroom? Face it, gender matters. For the chauvinists out there, a woman leaving a loaded

gun in a public place provides, excuse the pun, ammunition for why they should not be allowed

to have them. One woman’s mistake, especially one so controversial, risks an entire population

losing respect for all women in uniform who put their lives on the line everyday, just like their

male counterparts. The Transportation Security Administration was wise to not release the

gender of the individual at fault. Humans are not infallible. They make mistakes. However, one

mistake should not be the undoing of hundreds of years of progress made in the history of law

enforcement.

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Is There a Woman in That Waistcoat?

Rose Fortune, born in 1774 into slavery, garnered the title of the “world’s first

policewoman” when she began walking the Annapolis Royal on Nova Scotia’s north shore

“wearing a man’s waistcoat over her skirts, helping to keep the peace and inspiring other women

with her assertive ways and practical attire” (Smith 2). Being “the ‘first’ takes guts,

determination, talent”, no matter what field, but especially in law enforcement (1). Abby Hopper

Gibbons founded the Women’s Prison Association in 1845 and paved the way for female

correctional officers (1). Alice Stebbins Wells became the first “policewoman” hired by the Los

Angeles Police Department in 1910 and spent thirty years recruiting more female officers to

follow in her footsteps (1). Being a leader “has little — if anything — to do with rank, position,

seniority, or gender. To ‘lead’ one must be able to inspire, be willing to take risks, and be

introspective and flexible” (2). Women have been making their mark in law enforcement for

hundreds of years and continue to do so today.

Taking One For the Team

Stacy Dittrich, author of Stumbling Along the Beat: A Policewoman’s Uncensored Story

from the World of Law Enforcement, was one of the first female police officers hired by

Mayberry Police Department in Ohio during the 1980s. After reading Stacy Dittrich’s memoir,

Stumbling Along the Beat, I felt like I could relate to her story. Male or female, it takes a special

person to go to work every day knowing they will put their lives on the line to protect complete

strangers. The stress alone can make or break an officer. For Officer Dittrich, being the first

female in her department meant fending for herself more often than not.



Hannah Luke� 12/1/12 2:59 PMComment [1]: I chose to not repeat the author source and credentials again because I already talked about Sergeant Betsy Smith’s 30 year law enforcement career in the previous paragraph.

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Hannah Luke� 12/4/12 11:28 AMDeleted: As I mentioned previously, I am the daughter of a police officer, just like Stacy Dittrich. Growing up around law enforcement makes it hard to ignore the possibility of working in the field. Hannah Luke� 12/2/12 12:43 PMDeleted: IHannah Luke� 12/2/12 12:43 PMDeleted: , regardless their gender

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Not all male officers accept women graciously into their workplace. Some, like Officer

Dittrich’s supervisor, Lieutenant Roberts, believe that “‘the only thing a female officer brings to

a police department is problems and pregnancy’” (qtd. in Dittrich 99). Stacy even faced

situations where her life became threatened due to male officers refusing to back her up on calls

(137). Dittrich believes that women belong in the field of law enforcement, but admits that

women often face more challenges than men in the workplace.

She comments on her first day as a police officer. She “strode into the men’s locker

room proudly wearing [her] uniform. Remember, [she] was a pioneer female, so there wasn’t a

women’s locker room” (Dittrich 30). Other struggles, including the “badge bunny” stereotype,

or the idea that women surround themselves by uniformed men because they feel more powerful

or are only interested in men for the uniform they wear, cause issues for Dittrich (89). Fighting

sexual harassment, bullying, and a lack of acceptance in addition to keeping the streets of her

community safe makes Officer Dittrich a hero in my eyes. I realize that I can thank women like

Stacy Dittrich who fought to become the first female officers in agencies all across the world.

Those women took the brunt of the discrimination. They proved that women have the right to

protect and serve just like men. Their hard work makes me joining the ranks of a police force

one day “normal”. It is the responsibility of the current and future female officers of my

generation to continue what women like Rose Fortune, Abby Hopper Gibbons, Alice Stebbins

Wells, and Stacy Dittrich started.

As the World Matures

Other countries besides the United States struggle with gender discrimination issues in

the workplace. In Pakistan discussions about reform for women in police have taken place

recently. The results of the conversations are surprising. The people of Karachi believe “it is



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time to bring women to the front and introduce them to real policing” (“For Women Police,

Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets."). Previously, women stayed in the back away from

dangerous situations their law enforcement careers frequently presented. Today, 77% of people

interviewed in Karachi consider policing an appropriate career for women (“For Women Police,

Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets."). Honestly, I was surprised to read that in a

country where women fight for their rights on a daily basis, part of the population supports

women working alongside men in such a dangerous field. Out of 97 male officers interviewed

by The Express Tribune, 91% would encourage women to join police forces within Pakistan.

Some men even said they would not mind working under female supervisors (“For Women

Police, Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets."). I wonder if countries like Pakistan

support women moving forward in law enforcement, maybe the world is moving past a lot of the

discrimination issues that dominated the past.

Supply in Demand

The demand for female officers grows each year. In California’s Orange County, the

sheriff’s office began recently recruiting new officers, new female officers especially. Women

applying to become a police officer participate in the same tests and must meet the same

standards as men. The competition is tough, but fair. In Orange County, no discrimination

exists in the hiring process for law enforcement officers. Sandra Hutchens, sheriff of Orange

County states, “In terms of getting more females into law enforcement, it’s a struggle” (qtd. in

Frere 1). Only 11% of the sworn workforce in Orange County is female (1).

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics released a crime data brief

about the changes in the employment of female officers and the percent increases over a twenty-

year period. From 1987-2008 the data suggests that the proportion of women in law enforcement

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has gradually increased over the years (Langton 1). While the overall proportion of men

compared to women in law enforcement shows that far more men work in policing jobs, more

women are entering the field than ever before. The 11% of the Orange County Sheriff’s

Department that consists of females is a higher percent than it was years ago. Plus, with the

efforts being made to recruit new female officers, it would not be surprising to see that percent

increase in the upcoming years.

The misconception that officers are constantly fighting or dealing with aggressive

criminals has become a turn off for women applicants. Policing is about communication,

something women are often better at than men (Frere 1). According to the crime date brief,

“during the 1990s and 2000s, the percent of sworn law enforcement officers who were women

increased only slightly in federal, state, and local agencies. By 2007 nearly 4,000 state police,

19,400 sheriffs’, and 55,300 local police officers were women. In 2008 . . . there were about

90,000 sworn officers, of whom approximately 18,200 (20%) were women” (Langton 1).

Between 2007 and 2008 nearly 100,000 women worked in law enforcement between all three

types of agencies (1). The career misconception does more damage than the gender stereotype in

certain situations. Such a large increase and demand for women in law enforcement could

possibly indicate society is accepting women into the field and they are thriving.

Two Sexes Are Better Than One

I recently interviewed two detectives, one female and one male, from the Union County

Sheriff’s Office and got their opinions of women in law enforcement. For the past 11 and 15

years respectively, Detectives Lockey and Mullis have served and protected Union County and

have plenty of experience when it comes to working with officers of the opposite sex. Today

they work together in the detective bureau division of the sheriff’s office. Detective Lockey



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knew she wanted to be an officer and help people after growing up in, “for lack of a better word,

the ‘ghetto’”, where she saw countless incidents of crime and domestic violence (Lockey).

Like all other officers she needed to complete the BLET, or Basic Law Enforcement

Training, program before officially becoming a sworn officer. While in training, Lockey states

that she felt she definitely had to prove herself because of her gender. The males she completed

training with picked on her and expected her to meet the same requirements they did. She did

not get any special treatment and used it as a motivator to succeed. After training Lockey says

that being a woman has had its benefits. In her opinion, women have “better listening skills,

more patience, compassion, and the ability to calm down hostile situations, especially when male

suspects or victims are involved” (Lockey). Detective Mullis did not argue otherwise.

As a male working with many females on the job he says gender does not make the

difference. Instead, a person’s individual personality determines whether or not they have what

it takes to be a police officer. He stated, “Some women want to put the badge and gun on every

day, but when it comes time to ‘get their hands dirty’ they do not come through” (Mullis).

Officers face situations every day where they have to get physical and jump into dangerous

situations. “A female officer who does not hesitate to do the tough parts of her job automatically

gains more respect in they eyes of a male officer”, according to Detective Mullis (Mullis).

Mullis also stated, “Some men don’t belong in law enforcement . . . personalities and job skills

are more important than gender” (Mullis).

When I asked Detective Mullis if he treats female officers like Lockey differently, he

jokingly said the only thing he refuses to do is “pass gas in front of her” (Mullis). Aside from

maintaining the manners of a gentleman, the consensus seems to be that today’s modern male

officer does not see any difference when it comes to working with a female officer. Detective

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Lockey mentioned that some of the men she works with see her as “their little sister . . . but that

doesn’t hinder [her] from doing [her] job. [She] likes that they feel protective over her”

(Lockey). Compared to the situations Officer Dittrich faced when her male coworkers refused to

back her up on dangerous calls, having fellow officers willing to watch over you like a big

brother is a much better alternative.

Both officers agreed that law enforcement has changed in the past twenty years. More

women are joining the police ranks, and even more are taking on supervisory roles. Detective

Lockey remembers being the only female on her squad when she first started out, but today it is

not uncommon to see females working in all divisions. People are more open to the idea of

female officers than they used to be. In the beginning, Detective Lockey says she would go to

answer a call and people would say they needed a male officer there, even if it was just to take a

report. Detective Mullis says in the beginning they would not leave a female in an assignment

where there wasn’t a lot of back up to help them out because they feared the girls could not

handle the more dangerous situations. Lockey believes “there are still stereotypes out there . . .

but it’s about the personality of the person more than anything” (Lockey).

I want to be a police officer. Men and women work together in almost every career field

today. Each gender’s unique qualities bring different points of view to situations. There will

always be the few who discriminate against females working in male dominated careers and they

are entitled to their own opinions. However, inside the field of law enforcement women are

being accepted more and more, even in countries like Pakistan. Countless women like Rose

Fortune, Abby Hopper Gibbons, and Stacy Dittrich fought for the opportunities to prove females

belong in law enforcement just like men. There is still a fight for more women to consider

careers in law enforcement and take on leadership positions, but statistics are showing a positive

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Hannah Luke� 12/4/12 11:44 AMDeleted: I am that woman that some look at and either wonder what could possibly possess me to want to work in law enforcement or admire me for wanting to serve and protect my community and country. Personally, I am passionate about policing simply because I have always been surrounded by it.

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growth for the number of women entering the field. Officers like Detectives Lockey and Mullis

prove that gender does not matter like it used to. The actions and personalities of women

determine whether they have what it takes to wear the badge and gun. I am empowered knowing

that, even though I will have to prove myself, acceptance in policing is all about having the right

attitude and working hard. Employers acknowledge women bring communication to police

work. My future career choice is not the most popular choice for women, but for those of us

passionate about it, it is worth breaking down the barriers for a chance to make a difference.

There is still plenty of room for improvement, but maybe I will get the chance to make a mark in

the history of law enforcement and be a part of a generation with more female officers than ever

before.

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Works Cited

Dittrich, Stacy. Stumbling Along the Beat: A Policewoman's Uncensored Story from the World of

Law Enforcement. New York: Kaplan, 2010. Print.

“For Women Police, Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets." The Express Tribune.

International Herald Tribune, 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

Frere, Eileen. "Orange County Sheriff Seeks a Few Good Women." Abc7.com. American

Broadcasting Company, 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

Gender Discrimination Prevention and Relief Act. N.p.: Harvard University, 01 July 1999.

Langton, Lynn. "Women in Law Enforcement, 1987–2008." Crime Data Brief (2010): 1-4.

Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice, June 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

Lockey, Tabitha. Personal Interview. 14 Sep. 2012.

Mullis, Wayne. Personal Interview. 14 Sep. 2012.

Rogers, June W., PhD. "Ending Stereotypes Requires a Beginning." Newsletters. WIFLE, Sept.

2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012.

Smith, Betsy B., Sgt. "Women in Law Enforcement: How Gender Differences Enable New

Police Leaders." Newsletters. WIFLE, Sept. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.

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Track Changes Final Draft