The Metropolitan Police Department issued an unusual set of instructions to its 40,000 male officers this month. The MPD asked male officers to start working better with female colleagues. The official directive, issued on Sept. 17, urged male officers to change their outdated perceptions of female colleagues and to wipe out prejudicial attitudes that cause many female officers to quit mid-career.
The MPD's effort to improve treatment of female officers in their workplace should be commended. For too long, women have waited for things to change with little to show for it. The MPD's direct action, indeed almost an "order," to improve female officers' positions may be the best solution.
If only other workplaces, companies and organizations would also issue such directives, perhaps Japanese women could start to receive more equal treatment.