In the USA about 12 percent of Police officers are women. In Canada it's 23 percent.

J

jimintoronto

Well-known Member
Given that the general population is equally divided between males and females, why are so few American Police officers women? This link shows that in Canada, twice as many Police officers are women, as in the USA. Why the difference ?

Link. Google Search JIMB>
 
As of late 2024/early 2025, women make up approximately 35% to 36% of police officers in the UK. While this is the highest proportion since records began, it represents a continued drive to increase gender diversity within the UK police workforce.
 
horseless carriage said:
As of late 2024/early 2025, women make up approximately 35% to 36% of police officers in the UK. While this is the highest proportion since records began, it represents a continued drive to increase gender diversity within the UK police workforce.
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yes and I have to tell you, that's part of the reason our Police force.. is no longer a 'force''.... woke.. weak... lily livered....
 
horseless carriage said:
As of late 2024/early 2025, women make up approximately 35% to 36% of police officers in the UK. While this is the highest proportion since records began, it represents a continued drive to increase gender diversity within the UK police workforce.
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Your post supports my contention, that in many nations, outside of the USA, women are much more likely to be hired as Police officers. So, back to my original question, why is the USA so far behind other first world countries, in hiring women officers ?
 
IrishEyes said:
Maybe if they could wear leggings instead of uniform pants the rate would increase?:unsure:
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What difference would the uniform make ? Take a look at all of the US military branches. They all wear trousers on duty. In the summer, the Toronto Police all wear shorts, except for the motorcycle officers. The barrier for females to be hired is the attitude they encounter, in the hiring process.
 
jimintoronto said:
Your post supports my contention, that in many nations, outside of the USA, women are much more likely to be hired as Police officers. So, back to my original question, why is the USA so far behind other first world countries, in hiring women officers ?
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I wouldn't want to be a police officer, but if I really had to I'd rather be one in Belgium (met 2 there when my brother and I tied a tie to a moped and the one on the bike held it LOL They were so sweet. We didn't even get a fine. They were so concerned and we had to remove the tie. They said: That's really dangerous) than in the USA where everyone may carry a gun and someone can be a dangerous criminal. No thanks. I can see why women rather become a receptionist or something.
 
jimintoronto said:
What difference would the uniform make ? Take a look at all of the US military branches. They all wear trousers on duty. In the summer, the Toronto Police all wear shorts, except for the motorcycle officers. The barrier for females to be hired is the attitude they encounter, in the hiring process.
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Maybe if they could wear leggings instead of uniform pants the rate would increase?:
That's called being facetious.
How do any of us know the many reasons behind it. I know many try but seem to fail at the Physical tests, some fail at the written
exams, others drop because they become pregnant or health issues. If you are hinting that it is because they don't want to hire
women, believe me, the women's rights groups are all over watching for that.
I think with the rise in crime and aggressive behavior in communities it is not as appealing to many women any more.
Women usually want a job serving in the public arena to Help and as you know, how many good news about the Police
Officers do you see reported in the news and yet they happen daily all over this country.
It's many reasons Jim.
 
The Pennsylvania State Police has about 10% of females on their force. We have issues with getting new Cadets males and females, but mostly females. The issue has usually been qualifying with the physical fitness course. Females are not held to the same standards as the males. There have also been times getting Cadets through with a passing grade on the firing range.The Cadet Training Academy takes about 28 weeks and they must live at the Academy for those 28 weeks. They may get a weekend off now and then and are allowed to go home (maybe).

And of course, everyone in the U.S. has the ability to own a gun. No one knows who has a gun in their possession. When a Trooper or a police officer walks up to a car he/she just stopped, they have no idea how they will be greeted. Maybe the Trooper could be looking down the barrel of a .357 or a double barreled shotgun. It’s happened.

If it was just a matter of writing speeding tickets, handing out illegal parking tickets, or investigating vehicle accidents it would probably be a lot easier to hire new cops.
 
jimintoronto said:
What difference would the uniform make ?
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To some, it might play a factor... 🤩

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911 said:
The Pennsylvania State Police has about 10% of females on their force. We have issues with getting new Cadets males and females, but mostly females. The issue has usually been qualifying with the physical fitness course. Females are not held to the same standards as the males. There have also been times getting Cadets through with a passing grade on the firing range.The Cadet Training Academy takes about 28 weeks and they must live at the Academy for those 28 weeks. They may get a weekend off now and then and are allowed to go home (maybe).

And of course, everyone in the U.S. has the ability to own a gun. No one knows who has a gun in their possession. When a Trooper or a police officer walks up to a car he/she just stopped, they have no idea how they will be greeted. Maybe the Trooper could be looking down the barrel of a .357 or a double barreled shotgun. It’s happened.

If it was just a matter of writing speeding tickets, handing out illegal parking tickets, or investigating vehicle accidents it would probably be a lot easier to hire new cops.
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Would you agree that the PSP and the Ontario Provincial Police are similar in their mandate to provide services in a large area? The OPP has about 34 percent of their total officers, who are women. The percentage of OPP officers in front line public service ranks is 23 percent. Both SPS and OPP run a 28 week training college course that is co-ed and recruits live at the OPP college during the course.
 
911 said:
The Pennsylvania State Police has about 10% of females on their force. We have issues with getting new Cadets males and females, but mostly females. The issue has usually been qualifying with the physical fitness course. Females are not held to the same standards as the males. There have also been times getting Cadets through with a passing grade on the firing range.The Cadet Training Academy takes about 28 weeks and they must live at the Academy for those 28 weeks. They may get a weekend off now and then and are allowed to go home (maybe).

And of course, everyone in the U.S. has the ability to own a gun. No one knows who has a gun in their possession. When a Trooper or a police officer walks up to a car he/she just stopped, they have no idea how they will be greeted. Maybe the Trooper could be looking down the barrel of a .357 or a double barreled shotgun. It’s happened.

If it was just a matter of writing speeding tickets, handing out illegal parking tickets, or investigating vehicle accidents it would probably be a lot easier to hire new cops.
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I tell you what I've noticed... about female officers...

I watch a lot of real time Cop Videos on youtub, particualry American because that's the most that's available on YT. In the course of that I've prbably watched more than a thousand over the years

Overall.. altho of course there are exceptions.....Male officers seem to be even tempered .. until they're pushed to their limits... but as soon as female officer appaear.. and that's here in the UK as well.. things immdiately escalate..caused almosts every time by the female office who comes in with an attitude toward the suspect..., and within seconds, a calm and manageable situation turns into a battle...
 
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hollydolly said:
I tell you what I've noticed... about female officers...

I watch a lot of real time Cop Videos on youtub, particualry American because that's the most that's available on YT. In the course of that I've prbably watched more than a thousand over the years

Overall.. altho of course there are exceptions.....Male officers seem to be even tempered .. until they're pushed to their limits... but as soon as female officer appaear.. and that's here in the UK as well.. things immdiately escalate..caused almosts every time by the female office who comes in with an attitude toward the suspect..., and within seconds, a calm and manageable situation turns into a battle...
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That hasn't been my experience..
but YouTube isn't exactly known for being unbiased..
 
Sunkist said:
That hasn't been my experience..
but YouTube isn't exactly known for being unbiased..
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these are not Videos made by Youtube... these are videos uploaded by hundreds of different police forces themselves.. and also witnesses to certain events... who took footage n phones and cameras
..but I've seen in real life as well here in the UK
 
jimintoronto said:
Your post supports my contention, that in many nations, outside of the USA, women are much more likely to be hired as Police officers. So, back to my original question, why is the USA so far behind other first world countries, in hiring women officers ?
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Just a hunch, could personal safety have any baring on US women's reluctance of a police career?

Statistically a UK police officers are significantly safer than their US counterpart regarding the likelihood of being killed in the line of duty. US police officers face a vastly higher risk of fatal encounters, primarily driven by the high availability of firearms in the United States.

On-duty deaths of police officers in the UK are relatively rare, often averaging fewer than one per year, with road accidents being a major cause.
US police officers face a much higher, though still rare, risk of felonious killings, primarily through firearms.
 
One thing is for sure. If standards are reduced or ignored to equalize things, then there will be a less effective police force. It's a tough job and probably most males are not qualified. I know I would not ever have been qualified.
 
AutumnGal said:
I don't know a bit about the stats but I know of many a female officer, at least in my area.

A fair percentage? Not sure.

Areas definitely probably differ.

Is this a US vs. CN competition?

I'm not used to such.
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Is this a US vs. CN competition? It does leave you with that impression doesn't it? Why should it be? We live in many different countries and I believe we
each love our own, we each and all should respect that.
 
I don’t see it as being any type of competition. I read the question as a curiosity the poster had about why that difference is so distinct and was only looking for possible answers, i.e., is it cultural background, safety concerns, disinterest?
 
@Nathan, I seen the same thing at my Sheriff's Office.

The female deputies I knew & were assigned to the street were capable of handing themselves just as well as the male deputies. They could talk to subjects, especially ones with mental issues, calmly & listened to them without escalating the situation.

How many of the other countries have lowered their standards down for women more than for men to the point that more women can be hired?

I don't believe standards should be lowered for anyone, male or female, just so people can pass them who would not have done so otherwise. Filling quotas, even though it may be denied by the powers-to-be, is unforgivable & will get people killed.
 
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I think this is being framed a bit too much as “the U.S. is behind,” when there are a lot of factors at play that make it an apples-to-oranges comparison.

Policing in the U.S. is a very different job than in many other countries. Officers here are far more likely to encounter armed suspects, which raises the physical and tactical demands of the job. That alone can affect who chooses to apply, not just who gets hired.

Another piece is that U.S. policing isn’t one system. There are thousands of departments, all with their own hiring standards, recruiting efforts, and local culture. Some agencies have much higher percentages of women than others.

Also worth noting, this isn’t just about hiring. It’s about applicant pools. If fewer women apply for the job in the U.S., for whatever reason, be it risk, lifestyle, training demands, that will naturally affect the percentages.

There may well be cultural or institutional factors too, but it’s probably not as simple as “the U.S. doesn’t hire women” compared to other countries. Seems like a more complex mix of job risk, structure, and personal choice than a single explanation.
 
AutumnGal said:
I don't know a bit about the stats but I know of many a female officer, at least in my area.

A fair percentage? Not sure.

Areas definitely probably differ.

Is this a US vs. CN competition?

I'm not used to such.
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Facts. Comparing 2 countries that are next door to each other. Note that the percentage of female Police officers in the United Kingdom is even higher, than in Canada, OR the USA. JIMB>
 
I’m wondering if the difference is in the traditional approach to law enforcement between Canada and The United States.

I have no data but my perception is that Canadian law enforcement may tend to focus on community based peace keeping initiatives while The United States tends to focus on law enforcement in ways that tend to require a higher use of force to fight crime rather than focusing on deescalation and prevention. 🤔
 
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