Comparative Models of Policing and the Role of Women Officers

Abstract

This paper considers the importance of comparative international studies of policing, with some key examples. The neglect of the position of female officers in these accounts is noted and, in the rest of the paper, an attempt is made to redress the balance by comparing the key features of the role of women in policing in Australia, Britain and the USA. The need for analytical models to include gender is noted, with some examples of how this might be done, and the explanatory powers of various taxonomies of policewomen's experiences are tested.

Women Police in a Traditional Society: Test of a Western Model of Integration

“…This may not be surprising given that U.S. policewomen are more likely to express a preference for full integration than those in any other Western nation (Heidensohn 1992). In fact, the new recruits in India are closer in their role preferences to women of cers in Europe.…”

“…WOMENPOLICEarenowtobefound in many countries and regions of the world, but they still comprise only a small minority of serving of cers (Heidensohn 1998;National Center for Women and Policing 1998;Prenzler 1998;Harris 1999;Horne 1999). Moreover, studies in many countries show that they have not been fully integrated into policing, as judged by the roles they perform and their career expectations and opportunities .…”

Police Drugs Training Activities: An International Perspective

“…All international comparisons of police issues are to some extent inadequate and frequently appear to compare incompatible data (Heidensohn, 1998;Mawby, 1990). Attempting to comprehend unfamiliar systems also tends to create over-reliance on official definitions of police functions.…”

Women Police in a Traditional Society: Test of a Western Model of Integration

“…WOMEN POLICE are now to be found in many countries and regions of the world, but they still comprise only a small minority of serving officers (Heidensohn 1998; National Center for Women and Policing 1998; Prenzler 1998;Harris 1999;Home 1999). Moreover, studies in many countries show that they have not been fully integrated into policing, as judged by the roles they perform and their career expectations and opportunities.…”

“…If so, full integration can be expected to occur in time. On the other hand, there might be permanent barriers to full integration, which women are already encountering (Heidensohn 1992). These barriers might derive from several sources.…”