Birds of a feather or fish out of water? Policewomen taking rape reports

Rich, Karen; Seffrin, Patrick

doi:10.1177/1557085113510551

Cited by 18Sexual Assault and Victimization StudiesPolicing Practices and PerceptionsIntimate Partner and Family Violence

Birds of a feather or fish out of water? Policewomen taking rape reports

Rich, Karen, Seffrin, Patrick·2014·Feminist Criminology

DOI 10.1177/1557085113510551

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Abstract

Police departments and victim advocacy organizations are gendered institutions. In addition, rape is a gendered crime with most victims being female and most perpetrators male. On the job, female officers may experience harassment, discrimination, and pressure to conform. Rape cases may present unique challenges for them given these dynamics. A total of 429 police officers were quantitatively surveyed on colleagues’ comments about rape victims, utilization of victim advocates, perceptions of rape-related training, and inclination to encourage loved ones to make reports. Significant gender differences were identified in most areas. Results are discussed in relation to previous research on gender and police work.

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Rich & Seffrin (2012, 2013, 2014) received a score of 2 for reliability and validity due to administering author-constructed methods and providing validity and reliability scores.
“Rich & Seffrin, 2012, 2013, 2014), received a score of 2 for reliability and validity of their measure(s) due to administering author constructed methods, and providing validity and reliability scores.”
From From 'real rape' to real justice: A systematic review of police officers' rape myth beliefs (2017) · cites this paper as Rich & Seffrin, 2014
Female officers were more likely to make personal contact with advocacy agency and involve them early in the process.
“Female officers more likely to make personal contact with advocacy agency and involve them early in the process.”
From From 'real rape' to real justice: A systematic review of police officers' rape myth beliefs (2017) · cites this paper as Rich and Seffrin (2014)
Female officers showed more enthusiasm than male colleagues in working with victim advocates.
“Female officers showed more enthusiasm than male colleagues in working with victim advocates.”
From From 'real rape' to real justice: A systematic review of police officers' rape myth beliefs (2017) · cites this paper as Rich and Seffrin (2014)
Female officers were 2.7 times more likely than male officers to report hearing negative comments made.
“Female officers were 2.7 times more likely than male officers to report hearing negative comments made.”
From From 'real rape' to real justice: A systematic review of police officers' rape myth beliefs (2017) · cites this paper as Rich and Seffrin (2014)
Female officers were more likely than male officers to highlight that officers in their department would make negative comments about rape victims.
“Female officers were more likely than male officers to highlight that officers in their department would make negative comments about rape victims.”
From From 'real rape' to real justice: A systematic review of police officers' rape myth beliefs (2017) · cites this paper as Rich and Seffrin (2014)

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Authors: Rich, K., & Seffrin, P.
Affiliations: Marywood University (US)
ORCID: Seffrin, Patrick
Venue: Feminist Criminology
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2014-02-24
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Pages: 137-159
ISSN: 1557-0851 (ISSN-L)
1557-086X
DOI: 10.1177/1557085113510551
OpenAlex: W2166808321
Cited by: 18
References: 60
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
FWCI: 5.09
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Feminist Criminology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Keywords: women in policing, gendered institutions, rape victims, victim advocacy, gendered crime

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Birds of a feather or fish out of water? Policewomen taking rape reports

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