Liderança Feminina na Segurança Pública: As Competências Comportamentais como Instrumento de Aperfeiçoamento Profissional das Oficiais na Polícia Militar

Abstract

This study analyzes the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within the Military Police and examines how the development of behavioral competencies can strengthen female leadership and improve institutional performance. Despite advances in gender equality, women in the Military Police continue to face structural and cultural barriers that limit their access to command roles. Behavioral competencies—such as emotional intelligence, assertive communication, leadership engagement, decision-making, self-awareness, negotiation, and mental health management—are understood not only as attributes of individual development but as strategic institutional capacities. Using a bibliographic and documentary methodology, the research draws on theoretical studies, national legislation, and institutional documents to demonstrate that fostering these competencies contributes to a more inclusive, collaborative, and efficient organizational environment. The findings indicate that strengthening behavioral competencies among female officers enhances organizational climate, promotes equity, supports contemporary public administration principles, and reinforces the role of women in military leadership. The study concludes that investing in such competencies represents a transformative pathway for modernizing police management and consolidating gender equality within security institutions.