Adam+H.

Adam Hofman 4/4/11  **__ Gender Issue in the Police Force __** It was 1956 when my grandma joined the force. The first policewomen in the county joined in 1946. Before that they were only allowed to do the typing. They weren’t allowed to do some of the same things as men but they received their training with the men for two years. My grandma was at first only allowed to deal with the women and children that had gotten in trouble. Some of the men were accepting of the women and respected them but others were biased because they felt that the women were doing them out of a job. I can see where they are coming from but everyone no matter what sex or ethnicity deserves a job. The women were paid two-thirds the wages of the men which is unfair because they work just as hard as the men. The criminals that my grandma apprehended came quietly. They were respectful of the women on the force. Partially that was because they didn’t want to be seen struggling with a policewomen. The women were not given a baton or a set of handcuffs yet they were expected to perform on the same level as the men. Certain jobs that the women were allowed to do would be to search a man, be alone in the same room with a man, and drive the police car. In 1958 women were starting to drive the cars but before that it was unheard of. There were no outstanding problems with sexism back then. Just some of the men would’ve preferred not to have the women on the force. My grandma formally resigned from the force when my Uncle was born in 1962. Over those 6 years that my grandma was in the force a lot changed. Women were allowed to drive, it was becoming more common to see policewomen and the men came to accept that women could be police officers. When you contrast the 1950s to today women are more independent and play an even larger role in society than before.

Ray-You have good context but you need more anecdotes