This study administered a questionnaire designed to assess attitudes toward women officers to a random sample of 120 residents at 1 maximum security and 2 minimum security facilities in Wisconsin. A small sample of male and female guards was interviewed at the three institutions, and the author worked as a correctional officer at an all-male minimum security prison for 10 months. Questionnaire responses indicated that women were received positively by inmates, largely because they fulfilled a role as sex objects and had a different style of intervention. Participant observation revealed that male officers who adopted a less aggressive style of intervention were also well-liked. Both inmates' and guards' responses revealed considerable hostility toward female officers from male guards. Most officers indicated that this hostility decreased after the women had been employed for a while, but observation suggested that the hostility simply became less visible. While most guard respondents felt that women did their jobs as well as male officers, some concern emerged about the women's abilities to maintain order and protect themselves and others. The study also uncovered much speculative interest in the sexual activities of the female officers. All officers appeared confused about how women would act in cases where an inmate's privacy was a concern, indicating the need for a clear departmental policy. The article contains tables, 55 footnotes, and 20 references.