“Difference” in the Police Department

Abstract

In this article, the author reviews the concept of gender “difference” in relation to the criminal justice system. The author argues that the acceptance of women as different and the practice of doing gender, although initially allowing women entrance into the police organization, has continued to keep women police in subordinate positions and, thus, creates conflict. To illustrate, the author analyzes research on the history of the entrance of women into the police organization as well as their experiences and conflicts. The research reveals that without the acceptance of the doctrine that women are different and more humanistic than men, the police organization might not have accepted the issues of women and children (issues of social service) as police responsibility. However, the continual practice of women police as different has created conflict within the police organization and worked to keep women police within the lower ranks of the organization.