Sibella writes:

Just discovered your website through Google Alerts (“female law enforcement” was the key). What a treasure! You’re going on the Favorites right away.

Agree completely with your “I guess being at home is boring if…” statement. Life bloomed when I left the feminist stranglehold of “working mother.” For ten-plus years I worked as a daily newspaper journalist. I’m now a stay-at-home mom and novelist who homeschools two kids. When I left the newsroom, the other reporters were aghast. “What are you doing?!” they asked. “I’m raising the future of America,” I said, “what are you doing?”

You might not agree with my novels; they feature a female FBI agent and forensic geologist with LOTS of spiritual and emotional challenges. Interestingly, I agree with you about females in positions of authority — and my books feature a feminist-boss-from-hell in the FBI. But I wanted to write about that struggle because some women truly feel called to law enforcement. What we need, in my opinion, is an all-male police force, with an all-female auxiliary police force, for those who choose that path. But never, ever co-ed.

Have a great week, and thanks for thinking.

Laura writes:

Thank you. I appreciate your note. Hurray to you on your career change. I also was once a newspaper journalist at a major metropolitan newspaper. One day after my first son was born I went into the managing editor’s office and said, ‘I”m leaving.” I didn’t sit down or take off my coat.

I learned a few tricks as a journalist, but I wish I had spent that time preparing to be a mother and wife.

Interesting idea to have an auxiliary force. Somehow I can’t imagine that ever coming into being as the mere recognition of profound differences seems to do away with the idea of women on the front lines of law enforcement. But perhaps auxiliary forces that deal with the social work aspects of law enforcement and who do not dress or act like men would work. Even an auxiliary force would have to work closely with men. There might still be the problem of worker morale and destruction of the masculine esprit de corps. 

Are there women who feel called to law enforcement? Or are they really called to serve society in general? I’m sure a very small number of masculine women are intensely interested in the culture of law enforcement and love the work. The problem is their numbers are so few. Of course, women who are already in law enforcement and have spent considerable time training and working would say they are called to specifically that. But their judgment is colored by having become so much a part of that world. It seems to me this calling or an interest in crime and weaponry could be satisfied by other types of work, even on a volunteer basis. 

But generally I don’t lose sleep over these rare cases. A functioning society always creates martyrs to the cause of social harmony, individuals who must sacrifice their happiness for the larger good. The important thing is to encourage and constantly reinforce masculine and feminine models that work for most. 

Thanks again for writing. Your novels sound like fun.

Please follow and like us: