User:Kathleeenmcdonald/Women in law enforcement in the United States

Intersectionality in Female Policing

What is intersectionality and why is it important to have a basic understanding when talking about females in a position of power? Intersectionality as stated by Webster dictionary is, "the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups". This is important to understand because there is a lack of women in law enforcement, especially as officers due to this idea of sexism and that women are lesser than men. Intersectionality can be shown in many different ways. Many females face sexual harassment, not just from those they are policing, but also fellow officers at the station. Being a women also blocks them from any major promotion, or being able to stay on an assignment for long periods of time. Although it has been shown that women have a set set of skills that can be beneficial to the force when it comes to certain calls such as domestic violence or calls involving children.

Add in a section about wha the over arching issue is

Women who work in law enforcement have struggled for years to gain acceptance in their workplace. Some of the biggest struggles that they face, and that will be discussed in this article are, their lack of representation, stereotypes around women and intersectionality. It has been seen in many cases that women are afraid to go for a promotion over their male co-worker to do the constant oppression faced. There are resources out there for women who are looking for mentors such as the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). This organization helps guide newly appointed head female officers to become the best leader that they can be under the circumstances in which being a female has to offer. Commander Kristen Ziman of the Aurora (Illinois) Police Department, and also head of NAWLEE, stated that although yes, women are still oppressed today, some of it is self inflicted. This issue is not simply black and white. It encompasses a large group of individuals who must come together to help future generations succeed.

This issue does not just stop at rude comments or sexual harassment. Women are left out of office activities or squad bondings as well. This makes it difficult to make a connection with those who you are trying to work and communicate with. This can also be very dangerous when they are out in the field since there is a lost of trust.