The work of a police officer implies numerous ethical connotations. Thus, the representatives of this occupation field are often blamed for an unjust treatment of the minor groups and the excess of jurisdiction. The discussion that might arise, in the following perspective, resides in question whether the behavior of a police officer within an ethical dilemma depends on the gender issue.
First and foremost, one should note that one of the most typical ethical concerns in the relevant field is the cases of discrimination on the ground of the national origin. Hence, Pollock describes numerous situations where a police officer apprehends a person mainly based on his or her racial prejudices. The author lays a particular emphasis on the Afro-Americans and the Hispanics as they are more likely to cause suspect (Pollock, 2014). In this context, one might assume that female and male officers are inclined to use the similar approach. The described case does not imply any direct violence or inevitable danger. The question of discrimination refers to the common social opinion that both genders are apt to share. Therefore, the behavior of male and female officers in the framework of this particular ethical problem might have few differences.
Meanwhile, those ethical cases that suppose the use of physical force are more likely to reflect the difference between male and female mentality. Thus, according to the recent research, women tend to employ force less willingly than men. For this reason, most of the accidents implying unjustified force employment by the police concerned male officers (Pollock, 2014). The relevant phenomenon might be explained by the fact that women are initially less susceptible to a tempest of anger. US researchers on the relevant problem note that female officers are more likely to show emotional instability though the mood change does not have any connotations for aggressiveness (Novak, Brown, & Frank, 2006).
Moreover, the recent study has shown that male officers are more dependent on the opinion of their colleagues, particularly those who take a dominant position. According to the researchers, the relevant finding might signify the fact that women are more likely to support unethical behavior in case they are sure that it will remain unnoticed (Novak et al., 2006). As a consequence, one has reasons to suggest that the various types of discretion and criminal investigation described by Pollock might equally appeal to males and females (Pollock, 2014). Therefore, such unethical ways of acting as entrapment and the use of informants might look equally attractive to both genders due to the mixture of aggressive connotations on the one hand, and the lack of direct public violence, on the other hand.
In conclusion, the majority of specialists agree on the point that the gender issue cannot represent the only factor determining the reaction of a police officer in the context of a particular ethical dilemma. Thus, Pollock points out such factors as demeanor and socioeconomic status that have a significant impact on the moral level of an officer’s conduct (Pollock, 2014). There is, likewise, an opinion that one of the most important determining factors is the visibility of the officer to other members of the police organization (Novak et al., 2006). In the meantime one can note that the peculiarities of gender perception of different ethical questions should not be overlooked as they might assist in assigning proper tasks to the right officer.
Reference List
Novak, K.J., Brown, R.A., & Frank, J. (2006). Women on Patrol: An Analysis of Differences in Officer Arrest Behavior. Web.
Pollock, J.M. (2014). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning.