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This report is part of a series of Lessons Learned Briefs from the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) Gender
Responsive Policing Summit ‘Gender Diversity in US Policing – Progressing Words into Action’ (30 – 31 March 2023)
Women Police Associations
Police associations exist worldwide, representing subsets of the police workforce such as women. Women
police associations may vary in scope and purpose, with many of them offering critical support and
resources for women in policing. A women’s police association may represent women officers in a single
locale, the country, or worldwide (i.e., the International Association of Women Police). One of the most
important purposes of women’s police associations, such as the International Association of Women
Police (IAWP), is the unification and solidarity of women. The IAWP's mission is to "strengthen, unite and
raise the capacity of women police around the world."1 By unifying women in policing, the hope is to
increase their reach and capacity to reduce barriers for women in the field. One speaker at the 2023 IAWP
Summit in Omaha, NE, presented the importance of women police associations in uniting women,
mobilizing change, and transforming culture. IAWP Board Member Jackson advised how women can
establish associations in their area and increase membership and participation in existing associations.
Key takeaways
Associations provide key opportunities for connection, mentorship, and training that women may be
missing from within their agency.
Informal socialization opportunities via associations can be especially important in preventing feelings
of isolation as women encounter barriers along their career paths.
Women police associations can help mobilize efforts for change by bringing women together who are
experiencing similar challenges. Together rather than alone, they can have more impact on change
initiatives.
Associations may contribute to culture change by pushing back against negative social and cultural
traditions that would have typically excluded women. For example, with a more unified presence and
cause, women may gain opportunities to sit on committees and initiatives in international and
national settings.
To increase membership and interest in women’s police associations, leaders should consider
establishing a constitution and policies, appointing spokespersons, and advertising their mission.
Uniting women
Speakers highlighted the importance of associations in uniting women and providing opportunities for
training, conferences, resume building, and mentorship that may not be readily available or accessible to
their agencies. A critical benefit of women’s police associations is that women find informal networks
where they may feel safer sharing the challenges they face at work. Participants at this session discussed
how the network of women in their association allowed them to share challenges they would not feel
comfortable sharing or reporting to people in their agency. They spoke about being heard by a group of
people whom they did not worry would retaliate against them. Retaliation can be a worry for women
reporting experiences such as sexual harassment in their agency. Associations can provide a safe network
for someone to come forward.
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND POLICING RESEARCH LAB
Learn more about our ongoing work at: VIPRLab.org
For additional information about this report, please contact Rachael Rief at rrief@unomaha.edu.
Summit speakers paid particular attention to the ability of associations to bring women together to learn
about the challenges they face. For example, the Nebraska Association of Women Police (NAWP) used its
platform to learn more about women's issues in policing by disseminating a survey.2 They discovered that
their members continue to face problems related to ill-fitting uniforms and equipment, low support from
other women in their organizations, and lack of women’s health policies, amongst other reported issues.
By learning about the continued commonality of these issues, associations can confront them as a unified
front, leading policy initiatives, spearheading advocacy efforts, and promoting new and exciting
movements like the 30x30 initiative and HeForShe.
Mobilizing for change
IAWP Board Member Jackson discussed her experiences as a leader and member of a local women’s police
association. Her association provided opportunities to initiate advocacy efforts. Leaders of the
association, including Jackson, were invited to sit at the table for different policy reform decisions. Her
experience is evidence of associations' key benefit: the ability to mobilize for change. Associations can use
their positions to advocate, including addressing issues in their locale, like ill-fitting uniforms or the
absence of women's health policies.
Associations are also crucial in addressing cultural barriers. Across the IAWP conference, speakers and
participants realized that culture was a major barrier to improving the status of women in policing.
Speakers and participants at the session on associations recognized this and suggested that associations
could provide women with different, non-traditional avenues to have their voices heard. Participants in
the session on associations indicated that there is sometimes a need for more willingness from leadership
to listen to women’s challenges. Through a group effort, participants suggest that associations may
provide leverage and a platform to inform agency leaders of women's challenges, to facilitate action.
Increasing membership and participation
In addition to the benefits of associations, ways to improve membership and participation rates were
discussed. If someone is just establishing an association, they must create a constitution and policies.
Associations should also have a strong spokesperson. Individuals looking to increase membership should
try to gain publicity for the organization. Associations could advertise through police magazines and
newsletters. Other tools like webinars can be used to recruit a geographically far-reaching network of
members. To increase member participation, associations may use activities like a logo contest, where
members submit their creative ideas for association logos. Association websites and social media accounts
may provide more resources to connect and inspire ideas for building existing association capacities and
offer opportunities to connect with other local groups.
Participants cited
Lisa Jackson, IAWP Board Member and Affiliate Liaison
References and resources
1. IAWP (n.d.). Mission and Vision.
2. The Nebraska Association of Women Police. (2022). 2022 concerns of US women police – survey results.
International Association of Women Police (IAWP) Research Paper, Forthcoming.