Rethinking Gender Representation in Policing: Experimental Insights on Citizen Trust and Cooperation in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study extends the literature on symbolic representation by examining how increased female representation affects citizens' attitudes in policy areas that are not typically salient to women. A survey experiment with South Korean citizens tested whether a greater presence of female police leaders overseeing patrol programs affects public trust in the police and willingness to cooperate, but the results showed insignificant effects for both women and men. These null results contrast with prior evidence revealing positive symbolic effects in gender‐salient bureaucratic tasks for women. However, stratified analyses indicate that younger men may react negatively to female leadership in patrol, reflecting the cultural context in South Korea where severe gender conflict is particularly acute among younger cohorts. The findings highlight the boundary conditions of symbolic representation and underscore the importance of policy salience and societal context in shaping public reactions to gender representation in policing.