Van Buren and Sheriff Simpson

After reading the article "Factors Affecting the Internal and External Relationships of African American Policewomen within an Urban Police Department," it is no wonder the producers of Law & Oder treat the situation in the episode Compitence, regarding Lt. Anita Van Buren, as they do. Not only does Van Buren have to successfully maneuver the barriers all women in the police force face, but she also has those that come with the stigma of being an African American. Even though she is a ranking officer in the NY Police Dept. her accomplishments are "ignored" when she shoots and kills a young African American boy who also happens to have a mental disability and who along with another boy "attempted" to rob Van Buren while she was at the ATM. The situation to begin with is explosive due to the fragile relationship between the police and minority groups, especially African Americans. What's clear from the beginning is that those higher up in the Dept. are not interested in determining whether or not Van Buren was in the right for shooting the boy. Instead, they are more interested in appeasing the public anger over the situation. What needs to be asked is whether the Dept. would be so willing to sacrifice a white, male officer (or even a white, female or black, male officer) as decorated and accomplished as Van Buren as they were as willing to do so with her? Judging from the reading the answer is clearly no and Van Buren is well aware of this. Van Buren understands fully that her gender and race plays a significant role in how she is treated and viewed by her "peers" and by the public. Unfortunately, in the society we live in today things such as race and gender do count. That is why I was surprised at Sheriff Simpsons reluctance to accept this fact of life. While I understand and applaud her effort for attempting to separate her position as Sheriff from who she is (a white female) she can not deny that who she is does affect her position. It also affects other women as well because if Sheriff Simpson ever found herself in a compromising situation as Van Buren did then the first thought in the majority of people's minds would be: "See, women are not fit for such as position." When a woman is in a position of power, dominant society views her as representing all women. Although this is wrong, it is a fact of life. -Jennifer