North American policing has traditionally been a male domain, with men holding the majority of positions at all ranks in policing agencies. However, recent decades have witnessed a steady rise in the number of women in these organizations. Despite advancements, female police officers encounter systemic barriers to career progression, particularly in promotion and leadership, including those in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Conor et al., 2020). For many, the RCMP uniform is not just a badge of service but a shield from unwritten difficulties that continue to exist within the organization. Beneath the facade of progress lies a complex reality characterized by cultural resistance, structural inequalities, and capricious policy implementation, all of which quietly influence their advancement and professional success. This research investigates the central question: "What are the key promotional and leadership barriers that continue to hinder women's career advancement within the RCMP since 2013, despite the implementation of gender equality policies and initiatives?" The purpose of this study is to examine these ongoing promotional and leadership obstacles in the RCMP to determine why current policies have failed to establish equitable opportunities for women and to provide concrete recommendations for promoting a more inclusive organizational culture.
