Women and Police Occupation

The belief that there is no place for a woman in the police force used to be quite common for many years. Women were viewed as the weaker sex and many believed their characteristics could definitely not fit the description of a brave police officer. Today, however, the Slovenian police force employs 613 female police officers. The research attempted to find out whether the women have been accepted in their working environment and whether they have been given equal opportunities for performing their occupation compared to male colleagues. Part one of the paper contains a historical outline of employing female officers in the police force, the education process and challenges they have to face as well as ways of dealing with gender-related issues. Part two presents the outcomes of a research based on interviews with policewomen. The analysis of their responses attempted to define whether they are satisfied in their working environment.