Women in Policing: Changes in College Students’ Attitudes

• In Event: The Context of Higher Education: Punishment, LGBTQ and Women Officers, and Minimally-Surveilled Communities

Abstract

The number of women in many male-dominated occupations has increased over time. However, women are still underrepresented in policing. Previous studies conducted in the 1980’s and 1990’s (Golden, 1981; Austin & Hummer, 1994) examined attitudes toward women in policing by administering questionnaires to undergraduate students, specifically targeting those majoring in criminal justice. The current research surveyed students enrolled in criminal justice courses at a mid-sized Midwestern university using some of the same questionnaire items. Our findings from 2015 are compared to findings reported by the studies cited earlier, as well as to findings from data we collected in 2006. College students' attitudes toward women in policing have generally become very positive over the last few decades. Even so, those surveyed in 2015 still felt that others will not be as accepting of female police officers – reflecting a persisting and robust cynicism that poses challenges for recruitment. Implications for education and law enforcement will be discussed.

Authors

• Adrian Martinez, University of North Dakota

• Roni Mayzer, University of North Dakota