Women police in a traditional society: Test of a western model of integration

It has been argued that policewomen in traditional societies do not aspire to being fully integrated into mainstream policing, but may prefer a more r estricted and segregated role. This thesis is examined in the context of po licing in Tamil Nadu, a state of India. The present study uses data gathere d through interviews and a standardized questionnaire, and focuses on the p references expressed by women officers about roles and styles of policing. These preferences are compared with those of women interviewed in earlier r esearch in India and other countries. It is concluded that, while progress to full integration in traditional societies may be slower, it seems to fol low the same sequence of stages found in Western societies.