Perceptions of Demanding Versus Reasoning Male and Female Police Officers

Subjects (68 males and 72 females) rated audiotapes of police officers (male or female) interacting in a demanding or reasoning manner with a student (male or female). Results showed that regardless of the officer's behavior, female officers were perceived as more assertive, tenacious, and active than male officers. Demanding female officers were seen as less feminine than reasoning female officers, but male officers' masculinity was not affected by their behavior. Challenging a female officer was seen as more legitimate than challenging a male officer, and complying with her demands was seen as more of a failure.