Women in tribal policing: An examination of their status and experiences

This paper presents a portion of a study conducted from 1996 to 2001. The paper focuses on the role of women in tribal policing. The findings indicate that women are more highly represented in tribal policing than in non-Indian police departments. Five times more women hold positions of supervision and command in tribal police departments than in non-Indian departments. Of great significance is the lack of gender-based hostility perceived by women in tribal police departments. These findings contrast greatly with research conducted on the role of women in mainstream policing. There, studies have found that that female police officers are somewhat disconnected from the traditional power structure within mainstream policing, and are viewed by police administrations, and by themselves, as bringing different values and gifts to the role of policing. Research of mainstream police departments has also found that women are generally outside power structures within policing and consider themselves hampered in their chosen profession. This paper examines the differences in perception and achievement of women in tribal policing and explores possible explanations for these differences.