IT IS ASSERTED THAT HISTORICALLY WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN POLICE WORK HAS BEEN CLOSELY LINKED WITH STEREOTYPING OF FEMALE PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND OF FEMININE SEX ROLES. THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGAL ACTION TO DATE AFFECTING DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES CONCERNING WOMEN HAS BEEN TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AS AMENDED BY THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1972, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ON THE BASIS OF SEX. PUBLIC REACTION TO WOMEN IN POLICE WORK IS SAID TO VARY, WITH COMMUNITY CITIZENS ACCEPTING THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT WITH MALE OFFICERS RESISTING IT. EVALUATION STUDIES OF PILOT PROGRAMS HAVE FOUND IMPROVED PUBLIC IMAGE, LESS VIOLENCE IN POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS WHEN A FEMALE OFFICER IS PRESENT, AN OVERALL REDUCTION OF POLICE VIOLENCE, AND MORE SENSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE HANDLING OF RAPE AND SEXCRIME VICTIMS. DISADVANTAGES ARE SAID TO INCLUDE RESENTMENT AND OVERPROTECTIVENESS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)