Although there are increasing numbers of women professionals working within predominantly male correctional settings, little has been written about the impact of gender on the functioning of such professionals. The author's experiences from September 1974 through August 1976, in providing mental health services to the Marion County (Indiana) Jail indicate that gender did indeed affect her functioning and her interactions with the deputies and the inmates. Deputies regarded her primarily as a woman and were less resistant to her as a mental health professional than to her male colleagues. However, officers were more resistant to her efforts to change things in their sphere of work. Many inmates seemed better able to transfer and deal with their feelings toward women while working with her than while working with her male colleagues. They seemed less likely to be overtly aggressive to her than to male consultants. Dangerousness and the extent to which women may enhance the therapeutic process with inmates or improve the atmosphere of penal facilities are issues which need further research. Six references are included.