Summary
"This paper examines the relationship between gender and the civilianization of Canadian police service positions. The increasing use of civilianization as a business and management tactic and process reinforces and perpetuates inequitable power structures and results in lasting gender inequality within policing. Women are minorities in all Canadian policing organizations; however comprise a majority of civilian employees. Civilian employees occupy subordinate positions and experience inequitable treatment within police services. Using an interdisciplinary and feminist approach, this paper gathers disciplinary knowledge on civilianization and integrates these understandings based on the perspective of gender. To date, much of what has been researched and written about civilianization has been limited to its contribution as a political and economic-driven business tactic, its use as a management and organizational process, and the numerical descriptions of civilians. Less is known about how civilianization affects gender within the policing workforce. The conclusions can inform further research into civilianization and inspire practical applications that benefit women in police organizations."--Page 2.