“Lionesses” graduate from Iraq’s police officer academy

by Gracie Remington

Discussing one of the few bright spots in the military and political mess that has become Iraq, the New York Times has a lovely profile today on the fifty women of the self-described “Lioness” group who became the first female graduates of Iraq’s police officer academy. The women joined 1,050 of their male counterparts in the graduation ceremony, which American officers who were consulted on training procedure hailed as a step forward for the country and its women.

While women have long been a part of the Iraqi police force, it was only this year that they were made eligible for service in the elite officer’s corps. None of the officers questioned had any sort of explanation for either the change or the previous prohibition. While the female graduates have yet to receive their first assignments, Colonel Randy Twitchell of the US Army said that they would be participate in investigations and forensic work, as opposed to filling administrative positions.

The issues surrounding gender in both determining whether or not these women applied to the academy and whether or not they continued their studies once there are intriguing. All of the women interviewed said that their families encouraged them to join the academy, but struggled with threats they received from men in their communities. While male students were provided housing at the academy, women were forced to commute from home, in some instances leaving as early as 4 AM to get to school and returning after dark. First Lieutenant Noor Waled, who joined the academy after getting a degree in anthropology (most women in the police force join after law school or at least completing a bachelor’s degree, an interesting distinction between the Iraqi police corps and our own), discussed her difficulties with the physical drills, stating: “Everyone knows women have soft blodies, so it’s difficult for us to do military training like jumping or climbing.” Problematic essentialism aside (after getting through training, does she honestly still hold to the “soft bodies” idea?), she, along with First Lieutenant Farah Hameed, sheds light on the difficulties surrounding the training process. Hameed claims, “When we first joined, we were shy about wearing the uniforms, carrying guns and everything, but right now we are ready to do anything. Even the trainer said, ‘Now I can tell you are real officers by the way you walk.’”

The position of officer in the national police force is among the highest paying jobs available in the country, although one of the most dangerous, given the police force’s popularity as a target for insurgents. Regardless of the dangers presented by their new positions, the women remain optimistic and confident: Alla Nozad Falih says, “It’s been my desire since I was a kid to be a police officer, and now I am one. We are proud to be officers, and we encourage other women to be officers because it’s a great job.” The academy plans to graduate 100 female officers next year.