Abstract

Using a two-by-two vignette-based experimental design, this study aimed to examine the effects of women’s symbolic representation in sexual assault units and the arrest rate for interpersonal violence cases on individuals’ perceptions of police legitimacy, support for leadership, and willingness to engage in bystander intervention behaviors. Using responses from 357 students attending one university in the Midwest, the results showed that a higher level of women’s representation was associated with more police legitimacy and greater support for the leader when the agency had a low arrest rate. Whereas police legitimacy was related to bystanders’ intentions to intervene, women’s representation in the unit and the arrest rate was not. The findings indicate that women’s representation in policing strengthens the support for the police in gendered areas when the agency is underperforming.

摘要

本研究使用基于 2×2 小插曲的实验设计，旨在检验女性在性侵犯单位中的象征代表性和人际暴力案件的逮捕率对个人对警察合法性、对领导的支持和意愿的看法的影响从事旁观者干预行为。使用中西部一所大学的 357 名学生的回答，结果表明，当该机构的逮捕率较低时，更高的女性代表与更多的警察合法性和对领导人的更大支持有关。警察的合法性与旁观者的干预意图有关，而女性在该单位的代表性和逮捕率则与之无关。