How to force 32bit access to bit fields ?

[Ralf Große Börger]

Hi,

I am having a problem with the code GCC generates for bit field accesses. On
IA32 GCC 3.2.1 generates 8-bit instructions for a bit field access, but my
device memory only supports 32-bit accesses.
Is there any way to make GCC use 32-bit load and store instructions for a
bit field access? 
Can anyone point me to the corresponding subroutines in GCC that generate
code for bit fields?
Best Regards 
	Ralf