Posted: 11/29/2006 10:17:43 AM EDT
So here is my question..Sometimes i enjoy reading threads in the Brothers of the Sheild thread. I am a female trying to get a job in law enforcement and i like to read some of the information in that thread. While there are a number of great topics in that thread, sometimes i feel like any topic that is about a woman in that thread is just a complete bashing. For example there is one thread about people who work in the jail, as jailers and the first thing that is metioned is how women are useless in that job. I really wonder if they say that just to get people heated or if they sincerely mean it. I am not this huge womans right activist, however i really honestly feel that women can be just as successful and useful in law enforcement as men. I just really wonder why women are the first thing protrayed in a negative way..I really want to succeed at my job, but sometimes it is really hard in such a negative atmosphere. any comments or tips? |
LOL. Honey, nearly 95% of the posts on this entire forum are anti woman. Don't let it get to you. I'm sure you'll be great in law enforcement. LEO's in general also get alot of bashing on this site, in case you haven't noticed (not right, IMHO, but it's there nonetheless). Add together woman+LEO and it's a hornet's nest. Just ignore, or don't click on the threads. I've learned in 2 years, believe me. It's amazing sometimes to see what some people think. It's also very easy to type crap on the internet when you know you'll never see that person face to face. ALOT of the stuff here is written by keyboard commandos, some of whom still live in Mom's basement. Ignore it, take the good that you can from the posts, and ignore the rest. Welcome to the Site! Daisy |
I for one have no problem with women LEO's. In fact, there is one here that I would let cuff and stuff me over and over just so I could have the priviledge of seeing her smile.  However, I think that there are LEO roles that most women are NOT suited for. One of them being a guard in a mens prison. A sound working knowledge of martial arts and weapons use is great, but when a 350lb muscle head named bubba wants to lay his mits on you with bad intentions, there isn't much most women can do about it. Hell, most men would have big problems in this situation. Secondly comes the issues of protectionism. Most men here are old fashioned when it comes to women, especially those being in uniform. We were raised to respect women and come to their aid when they are in trouble or being harrassed. Most of us would do everything possible to prevent anything bad happening to the fairer sex. We can't help it, we are just wired that way.   Hi Daisy.
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Like Daisy said 95% of hte posts are anti women, now that being said...... First off grow some really thick skin. I will tell you why. When I went into the Army in 1982, it was not cool to be in the military what so ever. Now I went through and boot camp was segrated, all women or all men, that wasn't bad. Neither was AIT. I went into supply. So there were few women in my school and my company had us in the rooms down past the first Sgt's office. There was maybe 35/40 of us. The guys were housed on the other floors of the barracks. Now fast forward, I graduate AIT, land in Berlin in an ALL MALE shop. I was the only female for over a year. Now I have heard it all, women don't belong in the Army, women can't do the job, and oh lets not forget the Senior NCO's that thought I should sleep with them to get anywhere. Well I had my principals so sleeping with anyone to get anywhere wasn't going to happen. Now I did work hard, and proved myself capable of doing the job. Yes, most jobs that I have had I have had to prove myself, but once I did I earned their respect. I even unloaded trucks, and had a few drivers that had the mentality that women couldn't do it. Yes, you have to work harder at something but too me in the long run it was worth it. I should also mention I have a huge stubborn streak, and I don't let anything get to me much. So if you want to go into LE , just remember you will probably have to prove yourself,but eventually they do come around. Just figure out how important it is to you. Grow the thick skin and don't let what they say get to you is all. |
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You might try singling out a few LEO's that are known safe such as GlockGirl I would doubt she's anti women LEO. FWIW I worked in law enforcement [albeit about 20 years ago] and the majority of men I worked with were chauvinistic pigs. I loved them to death though. Best of luck! Patty |
| Me and the wife are LEO's. She told me that the guys at her first Field Office tried to give her the business and she put them in their place. She also said that you have to do the job to the best of your ability and take the lumps that are certainly gonna come your way. Some say that you have to prove yourself to get the respect of the men in the office or on the shift, we don't agree. If you accept any and all challenges that are thrown at you, do the job correctly with a good attitude, you will succeed. |
| Well thank you everyone..I am starting a new job as a juvinile detention officer on monday, and i am sure i will gain some good experience there, i graduate in may with my bachelors degree and i have started applying for police departments. i am a very determined woman, and i know that it is not all men who think like this. So to those of you who welcome females into the criminal justice field *kudos* and thanks again for all you advice |
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I think you have to do what you need to do for yourself and not care what the world around you is saying or doing. Just because other people may have negative things to say doesn't mean you should change your path in life. I went through the police academy - and I can guarantee that they will treat you and the guys exactly the same. They will expect you to do the same amount of push-ups, the same pull-ups, walk through tear gas, get pepper sprayed and tased and be able to shoot just as well, etc. There was no special treatment for being a woman and there was no negative treatment because I was a woman. As for out on patrol, yes, when you first start out you have to earn your place, but so do the guy rookies. It's really all your perspective of things and how you handle situations and react to the way people treat you. If you prove you are worthy, you will get treated with worth. If you are whiney and draw attention to yourself, then you'll most likely get treated like a whiney brat... Good luck with your future! |
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I agree with all of the posts above. Women make great LE in most instances. Please remember that men do not think like you do and they will sometimes say things during the normal day that you might find offensive but to that person they are just blowing off steam. Thick skin is one of the most important traits any person in a high stress job can have. Be tough and let your coworkers know your personal limits but dont whine. Good Luck! |
Yep. Mrs WW and I are cut from the same stubborn cloth. 'Cept I went into radiology. Field X-ray equipment is freaken heavy, BTW. Now, as far as the comments...some of the guys are just blowing off some steam, and are harmless, and you can tell who they are. You can joke with them. Then there are the true misgynist posters, who, as Daisy said, would not have the balls to say the crap they type to your face. Those are the ones I do my damndest to avoid. When avoidance does not work, I mock them.  There are plenty of good guys here, don't let the idiots get to you. Welcome to the site! |
I like it when PM posts before I do because I can just say 'what she said'. Welcome to Arfcom! (BTW, I found out a long time ago that a thick skin and a good sense of humor is all you need to get you through the 'all women are EVIL!' posts.) 
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