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Women and the RCMP

NCJ Number
152149
Journal
Gazette Volume: 56 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1994) Pages: 2-7
Author(s)
J MacKinnon
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The contributions and achievements of women in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force (RCMP) over the past 20 years have been significant.
Abstract
During the 1970's, the RCMP was recognized as a male- dominated organization. In response, an effort was made to examine areas in which women could be used in an active capacity. The RCMP recommended that women be employed as regular police officers, receive the same basic training as men upon entry and the same pay and benefits, and not be used solely in clerical positions. For the RCMP, 1974 marked a significant change in the composition of the police force when the first troop of 32 women became operational. A 1981 study found that gender had no effect on police work and officer competence. In 1988, a task force was created to identify barriers to the advancement of women in government positions, including the RCMP. Career advancement courses are now offered to women in the RCMP, and alternate work patterns are encouraged to help females achieve a balance between work and family commitments. Women are involved in virtually every aspect of police work; females represent about 10 percent of all uniformed personnel, and the RCMP hopes that this figure will increase to 20 percent by the year 2013. The RCMP has 72 female corporals, 10 female instructors at the Training Academy, and a female pilot. Men and women are generally afforded equal career opportunities, although some female police officers feel they are not accepted by male police officers. Recommendations to improve the position of women in the RCMP are offered that focus on the need to take gender balance seriously, the importance of viewing gender balance as a management issue, and the need to change police attitudes and the corporate culture. A chronology of significant developments related to the incorporation of women in the RCMP is provided.