Remediation and Equity: A Case Study of Gender Integration

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of gender integration in the uniformed services by examining the New York City Department of Sanitation's formulation of a program to introduce women into its blue-collar work force. The department efforts indicate that comprehensive gender integration programs must pursue two distinct and often conflicting values—remediation and equity. On the one hand, the department is attempting through remedial programs to address some of the common on-the-job problems faced by gender pioneers; on the other hand, the department is committed to standard operating procedures designed originally to insure equitable treatment for all personnel.