nd United States respectively. Table 1: Acceptance of policewomen by policemen Levels of Eastern Europe Western Europe Britain USAacceptence % % % &------------------------------------------------------------------------------------accepted by all 28 16 17 6policemenaccepted by 57 72 59 61most policemenaccepted by 7 7 16 20some policemenaccepted by few 7 4 3 9policemenaccepted by no 0 1 1 3policemen------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES A significant catalyst for the advancement of women in policing has been equal opportunities legislation. In Britain, the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 and Race Relations Act of 1976 mean that selection for recruitment and promotion must be made on merit irrespective of gender or race. Jones (1987) reports that the Police Federation and Association of Chief Police Officers mounted considerable opposition to the police being included within the provision of UK legislation. Jones (1987) and Wilkie and Currie (1989) reviewed the progress made by women officer subsequently in England and Wales and in Scotland respectively. It seems little was done to prepare for or evaluate the impact of integration which occurred virtually overnight. Southgate (1981) showed that two years after the passing of Britain's Sex Discrimination Act , only a third of then serving women officers wanted a fully integrated role. Jones (1987) found some twelve years after the legislation the majority of policewomen (58%) in the Welsh force that she studied wanted a fully integrate...
