ABSTRACT
Women remain underrepresented in policing, although some progress has been made in the preceding decades. A key area of concern is the slow progress of women moving up the ranks. Women still occupy very few senior leadership positions in police agencies across the world. With a focus on the US and Australia, this chapter explores what we currently know about the career life cycle of women police, the issues that are pertinent as women move from their initial application and entry into police agencies, through to promotion through the ranks. We explore established practices and cultural artefacts that characterise policing as ‘gendered organisations’ and in turn, entrench and perpetuate imbalances. The chapter reviews current research evidence regarding avenues for addressing gender inequity, particularly in senior leadership. Conclusions are drawn, highlighting areas of best practice that should be embraced by police agencies that seek to promote, endorse and support women police leaders.
