Policewomen’s perceptions of occupational culture in the changing policing environment of England and Wales: a study in liminality

Liminality is the transitional phase of a rite of passage when individuals no longer hold to their traditions but have yet to transition to a new status. Utilising cultural characterisations reported by a sample of policewomen (N = 127) from England and Wales, a hierarchical cluster analysis revealed empirical demonstration of a traditional preliminal condition, a transforming postliminal state and a liminal betwixt and between period, which are associated with different discriminatory experiences and policing styles. Women as potential liminal workers may offer a way to nudge movement towards the postliminal incorporation of a more academically oriented professional police culture.