Comparing Promotion Aspirations among Female and Male Police Officers

Abstract

This study compares the promotion aspirations of female and male police officers in a Midwestern police agency in the United States. Survey data revealed that female officers are less likely to pursue promotion compared with male officers. There were both similarities and differences found between the male and female officers in the factors that influenced each group's decision not to pursue promotion. This study is important because it reveals how the perceptions held by female and male police officers impact their decision not to pursue promotion. This is especially important for female police officers since there are currently so few women in administrative and supervisory roles.