Praising the police, avoiding the station: gendered differences on police–public relations in Kuwait

This study offers the first quantitative evidence from the Middle East illustrating how gender inequality shapes police-community relations. Women's comparatively positive assessments of police conduct, coupled with their greater reluctance to cooperate, reveal a deeper tension embedded within patriarchal norms that limit women's agency and engagement with formal institutions. These results underscore the need for gender-sensitive policing strategies and institutional reforms aimed at enhancing women's trust and participation in the justice process. Policymakers and reform advocates should draw on these insights to strengthen women's empowerment, civic confidence, and equitable access to justice across the region. Future research should expand this inquiry by investigating additional cultural and institutional mechanisms that facilitate or impede women's meaningful inclusion in law enforcement interactions.