Interviewees had at least a year of experience in working at both male and female correctional facilities. The officers found women to be more prone to irrational emotional outbursts than male prisoners. A majority (85 percent) felt females 'acted out' (i.e., had tantrums or outbursts of anger) more than men. Women were seen as having a 'shorter fuse' than men. Because women were seen as less likely to hold in their emotions than men, officers felt they had to watch what they said to female inmates and be more sensitive to how women might react to them. Women were seen to be more emotionally involved with others, presenting a problem for officers who felt they had to deal with a woman's friends in handling a situation. However, a large number of officers (47 percent) emphasized male inmates' tendency to suppress emotion and cope by withdrawal, physical activity, or attacks on others. Most officers felt women in prison were more emotional because women in general are more emotional. Some blamed physical or biological causes for this emotionality; others saw it as a call for help, a need for attention, or attempts to manipulate. The literature supports officers' opinions on the emotionality of women, although it does not support the observation of moodiness. Expressions of emotion from women affected officers' management style in that they had to be more concerned with anticipating how women were going to react. Two notes and eight references are included.