Women Police Leaders: Attitudes About Policing and Experiences in the Occupation

• In Event: Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Policing: Assessing Police Legitimacy and Opportunities for Reform

Abstract

This study aims to examine the attitudes and experiences of women police leaders. Studying female leaders is essential to understanding how to help women successfully navigate their career in the occupation. Further, awareness of how female leaders differ from male leaders contributes to understanding how women’s representation influences organizational change and police reform. Using data from the National Police Research Platform, this study explores women police leaders’ (n = 400) attitudes and experiences in seven areas: job satisfaction, burnout, sexism, support for policing styles, agency priorities, beliefs about the community, and attitudes about supervision. In addition, the attitudes and experiences of female police leaders will be compared to male police leaders (n = 3,000). The paper concludes with recommendations for promoting and retaining more women in police leadership positions as well as suggestions for future research studies.

Authors

• Amie M. Schuck, University of Illinois Chicago

• Cara Rabe-Hemp, Illinois State University