For women beginning their careers in law enforcement, it's important to recognize that it's still a male-dominated profession. Just don't focus more than you need to on that point.

In today's day and age, women have made tremendous strides working in male-dominated professions. Men have realized that we offer an incredible asset to the profession. With that said, policing will most likely continue to be male-dominated for years to come.

As long as your agency isn't Neanderthal-dominated, you should be successful. Your best chance at being accepted and successful is to be absolutely competent. Don't expect to be given anything because of who you are or who you know. Expect to be treated with respect because you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and abilities during times of calm as well as in the heat of battle.

When those who fall closer to the line of "Neanderthal" give you a difficult time, be sure to stand up for yourself. Ensure you're on solid ground with your skill set in place. Your competencies will rise above the B.S., and so will the support.