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Annotated Bibliography

Working in a Mans World: Women in Law Enforcement

Hannah Luke Professor Malcolm Campbell English 1103 18 October 2012

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Annotated Bibliography Dittrich, Stacy. Stumbling Along the Beat: A Policewoman's Uncensored Story from the World of Law Enforcement. New York: Kaplan, 2010. Print. Stumbling Along the Beat is a first person print source written from the point of view of a female police officer. Officer Stacy Dittrich grew up the daughter of a police officer and knew that is what she always wanted to do. She was one of the first female police officers hired by Mayberry Police Department in Ohio. Dittrich writes about the struggles she faced as not only a rookie officer, but also as a pioneer in the field of law enforcement as well. Not all male officers accepted women graciously into their workplace. Some, like Officer Dittrichs supervisor, Lieutenant Roberts, believe that the only thing a female officer brings to a police department is problems and pregnancy (99). She 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 mens locker room proudly wearing [her] uniform. Remember, [she] was a pioneer female, so there wasnt a womens locker room (30). Other topics, such as the stereotypes about badge bunnies, or certain women who are attracted to the uniform and power that comes with being associated with law enforcement officers, are covered in Dittrichs novel (89).

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Stumbling Along the Beat gives a candid view of what life is and/or was like for female police officers working in a male dominated field. Officer Dittrichs twenty plus years as an officer and her family history in law enforcement make her a credible source for information about women in the police force. She has also been a news correspondent for several news stations in reference to high profile criminal cases and is the author of seven books relating to law enforcement, both fiction and nonfiction. Her opinions are biased and based on her own personal experiences, but she does not make statements that apply to a large population. She speaks only for herself and her experiences. Dittrichs novel is a popular source because it was not written for academic purposes, but rather for an audience interested in a womans story about policing. This source is extremely helpful for me because I can easily relate to the author. I also have grown up the daughter of a police officer and want to become one myself. There are a lot of stereotypes surrounding women in law enforcement and Dittrich covers each one and has personal experiences to back up each statement she makes. I had never thought about the safety concerns associated with men not supporting women working with them in different agencies. Stumbling Along the Beat is a great starting point for my exploratory essay and will allow me to personally connect with my paper, as well as explore more topics relating to women in police forces that I have never thought of before. For Women Police, Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets." The Express Tribune. International Herald Tribune, 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

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For Women Police, Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets is a newspaper article written to inform the public about the recent discussions about Women Police Reform in Sindh, Pakistan. The author of the article does not take a particular position, but rather presents facts about the public opinion on the topic of women working in law enforcement. The main topics covered are should women work on the front lines, male support of female officers, and discrimination of women during training exercises. According to the article, the people of Karachi believe it is time to bring women to the front and introduce them to real policing (1). 77% of people interviewed in Karachi consider policing an appropriate career for women (1). Out of 97 male officers interviewed, 91% would encourage women to join police forces within Pakistan (1). Surprisingly, men even said they would not mind working under female supervisors (1). The article does address the discrimination issues surrounding female officers and the workplace, but more support exists for women today than there was decades ago. The specific author of the article is not listed, but The International Herald Tribune is a reputable newspaper that covers news all around the world. The valuable, unbiased information presented in the article appears accurate. The purpose of the article is to inform the public about issues and progress in countries throughout the world. For Women Police, Glaring Disparity in Rural, Urban Mindsets would be considered another popular source since it comes from a newspaper and is not peer-reviewed.

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The Express Tribunes article forces me to explore the idea that women are making great strides in the field of law enforcement. Not all males think that women belong in kitchens, rather than on police forces. The information in the article was surprising, but also informative. Since I am doing an exploratory essay, this source would be valuable in showing how law enforcement has developed and accepted new ideas over time. I am also able to explore the world of policing outside the United States. Frere, Eileen. "Orange County Sheriff Seeks a Few Good Women." Abc7.com. American Broadcasting Company, 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. Orange County Sheriff Seeks a Few Good Women is also a newspaper article written to cover Orange Countys search for new officers due to a need caused by the reopening of the womens jail. The article supports women getting involved in law enforcement careers. The sheriff of Orange County, Sandra Hutchens, a female officer, stated, In terms of getting more females into law enforcement, it's a struggle (1). Only 11% of the sworn workforce in Orange County is female. The stereotype 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 than men at (1). The career stereotype does more damage than the gender stereotype in certain situations. Women are participating in the same tests as men and the competition is tough.

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Eileen Frere writes a positive article looking at the search in one county for more female deputies. The article was written recently, meaning it is pertinent in todays society. Despite being a type of popular source, the information presented in Freres article shines a new light on the recruiting process in one county. Since she does not extrapolate and attempt to make statements about a larger population it is reasonable to trust the information presented. I will be able to use this source in my paper to show how there is less of a gender stereotype possibly, and more of a career stereotype that contributes to why there are fewer women working in law enforcement. Langton, Lynn. "Women in Law Enforcement, 19872008." Crime Data Brief (2010): 1-4. Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice, June 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. The Crime Data Brief on Women in Law Enforcement, 1987 2008 is an academic journal that examines the current state of and trends in the employment of female sworn officers in federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies (1). Overall, the report covers the changes in employment of female officers and the percent increases over a 20 year period. The general consensus states that the proportion of women in law enforcement has gradually increased over the years. The author presents an unbiased opinion of the data. Langton wrote the Crime Data Report under the supervision of Joel Garner, and then Brian Reaves verified the report. The US Department of Justice sponsored the publishing of the Crime Data Report as well, making this a government supported document. Therefore,

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Women in Law Enforcement, 1987 2008 is a peer-reviewed journal article and reliable academic source. The information provided within the academic source will allow me to support my findings and opinions that despite the fact women have faced many stereotypes and challenges; there is an increase in the number of women entering the field of law enforcement. The data provided proves that women are advancing and growing in the world of policing. "WIFLE, Women in Federal Law Enforcement." WIFLE, Women in Federal Law Enforcement. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. WIFLE is an organization dedicated to assisting with the hiring of female officers and enhancement of the image of law enforcement as an equally diverse field. The vision of Women in Federal Law Enforcement is to achieve gender equality in federal law enforcement. WIFLE supports women and their desires to work in federal agencies. WIFLEs website is a great source for articles about the advancement of women in law enforcement and the challenges they often face. Writers for the website are often retired police officers who have experienced their fair share of obstacles and have plenty of life experience to back up their articles. WIFLE is a well recognized and respected organization. The main audience for this source is women interested in working for federal agencies and the federal agencies themselves.

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Personally, I will be able to use this source to help find more support for my paper through first person stories and articles about new advancements in the field of law enforcement for women. I intend to use information I find on this website in my research project because of the high volume of quality and up to date information.