Female police officers participating in this study felt that their male colleagues did not acknowledge them as colleagues, but as women. They were not respected or regarded as capable of doing the job, because they were not male. In regards to sexual harassment, it occurred as isolated incidents. However, as more women enter the occupation of policing and are promoted into positions of authority, women may well be in a position to assist their female co-workers in the future to attain higher positions in the hierarchy of the policing structure. The role of women in society has changed considerably which is emphatically demonstrated in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Women have been and to a certain extent still are part of a minority group in SAPS activities. However, the past decade has seen a steady inflow of women into this once male-dominated occupation. Women are now entering policing occupations traditionally held by men and are taking their rightful place in law enforcement. This study of 26 female police officers portrayed the relationships of female police officers with their colleagues, frustrations and barriers at work, job satisfaction, and promotion possibilities. Tables, references