Policières

Policières is the feminine plural form of the French noun policière, used to designate female police officers. The term can refer to women who are members of a police service or to a group of such officers. In French-speaking contexts, policing institutions include both men and women, and the presence of policières has grown steadily as access to policing careers expanded and reforms promoted gender equality.

Historically, policewomen began entering policing in various countries during the 20th century, often after social and legal changes that allowed women to take on more active and investigative roles. Over time, reforms sought to integrate women into all aspects of policing, beyond traditional assignments in social work or child welfare, with many forces adopting policies to promote equal opportunities and reduce gender-based discrimination. Today, policières may perform patrols, respond to incidents, conduct investigations, collect and analyze evidence, and participate in public-order operations, including specialized units such as domestic violence, child protection, cybercrime, and forensics.

Training and professional standards for policières are generally aligned with those of their male counterparts, including police academy instruction, physical fitness, legal and ethical training, firearms and self-defense, and scenario-based exercises. Efforts to improve representation and leadership opportunities continue, alongside ongoing debates about work-life balance, pay equity, and the handling of gender-related issues within policing.

In French-language media and official communications, policières is commonly used to refer to female officers, complementing the masculine policiers and gender-neutral terms.