Women began working as police officers in the United States as early as the 1890s. They made up 12.6% of all U.S. sworn police officers as of 2018. Employed largely as prison matrons in the 19th century, women took on more and increasingly diverse roles in the latter half of the 20th century. They face a particular set of challenges given the history of their entry into the profession, their low rates of participation, and the complex identities they negotiate in the workplace.
Women who work in law enforcement have struggled for years to gain acceptance in the workplace. Some of their biggest challenges are their lack of representation, stereotypes around women, and intersectionality. Despite these challenges, women have typically proven to be more calm and use less force. Women usually go into situations more level-headed than males and therefore able to deescalate situations better.
