The Persistent Glass Ceiling in Law Enforcement: A Phenomenological Study Examining the Experiences of Female Police Leaders

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived
experiences of female police leaders. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews
conducted via Zoom. Common themes and key threads were then identified through analysis of
the data. The study was created and analyzed under the theoretical framework of feminism and
tokenism.
Key contributors to the participants’ career success to top leadership positions in law
enforcement included informal mentor relationships, external support systems, education and
training, work ethic, and perseverance. Several obstacles and barriers were identified as
contributing to the underrepresentation of women in law enforcement. These barriers and
obstacles included harassment, balancing work and family responsibilities, and the
hypermasculine organizational culture of policing. The challenges and obstacles identified by
the study participants were consistent with the literature pertaining to the glass ceiling and
more specifically to challenges faced by females in law enforcement. The organizational culture
described by the participants was also consistent with the literature pertaining to the
organizational culture of policing. Coping mechanisms and strategies identified by the study
participants included internal and external support systems and activities to relieve stress
including exercising and healthy eating habits.
The participants emphasized the importance of increasing the number of females in law
enforcement and recommended more female representation in higher education criminal justice programs and police academies and the need for transformational change in the
organizational culture of policing.