Women in Policing in China: A case study on career advancement

• In Event: POLWG Panel 23: Women in Policing

Abstract

Women have made significant strides in policing, a field historically dominated by men. In recent decades, international research on female police’ roles, progression and gender-related obstacles has expanded, yet notable gaps persist due to limited data and analysis. This paper addresses some of these gaps by examining women’s experiences in Chinese policing, with a particular focus on the challenges facing them in attaining top leadership positions. The paper opens by outlining the country’s socio-political, cultural and policing context to provide a framework for understanding the findings. It then reviews existing literature on women in policing in mainland China, examining the gendered structure of the People’s Police, female officers’ roles, positions within the organisation and prevailing attitudes towards gender integration. Drawing on a recently compiled dataset, the case study specifically investigates women’s representation in provincial-level police leadership. It explores gendered career pathways, disparities in career advancement, and the way in which cadre promotion policies disproportionately favour men and thus disadvantage women. It also identifies unique barriers hindering female officers’ upward mobility in this male-dominated, crimefighting-oriented profession. Ultimately, the paper sheds light on the challenges of achieving gender equality in police leadership and underscores the need for more inclusive policies to support women in ascending to top command roles within the police organisation. By doing so, it contributes to the limited international research on senior women in policing and enriches the literature on female police officers—especially those in policing leadership—within the Chinese setting.

Author

• Anqi Shen, Northumbria University