Prison Guards, Female (U.S.)

Women were first hired as prison guards in the 1830s, but it was not until the mid-20th century that female correctional officers began pushing for equal opportunities in the field. At first, female officers were primarily assigned to women's institutions, but today woman are employed at all levels of the correctional system. The fundamental basis for equality in prison work stems from Title VII, a 1972 amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, declaring it is illegal to base any terms of employment on race, sex, religion, or national origin. However, there was a stipulation that stated that employment could be restricted for one's gender, if the individual did not meet certain job requirements. In Dothard v. Rawlison (1977), the Supreme Court ruled that ...