Canadian Police Mothers and the Boys' Club: Pregnancy, Maternity Leave, and Returning to Work

This article explores police mothers' perceptions of their workplace experiences during pregnancy and maternity leave and returning to work. Using Charmaz's ( 2014 ) constructivist grounded theory with a critical feminist lens, qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 police mothers in the province of Ontario, Canada. Our analysis reveals that policewomen work inordinately hard to prove physical and emotional strength in an attempt to be accepted into policing's boys' club; encounter negative workplace responses to pregnancy; are often demoted or reassigned during maternity leave; and need to re-prove themselves as officers upon returning to work. Our research aims to enhance retention and foster changes that will best support police mothers, police organizations, and the communities they serve.