One thing I noticed many years ago when I was working Security for the Housing Authority, we had several women whose holsters didn't allow for a proper draw because their hips angled the holster inward. A friend of mine who was a police officer and worked secondary at the housing projects with me had a MAJOR problem with that. We fixed her problem with a "Jacket Slot" spacer.
That angled the holster outward so she could properly draw her weapon. However, for her to carry OFF DUTY, there was no holster other than a purse holster which she HATED! She, like many other women are uncomfortable with off body carry. It wasn't until the late 90's that holster manufacturers actually started to really design holster specifically for women. However, even today in 2015, there is a real dearth of holsters compared to holsters for men.
Much of that is simply because men's bodies and women's bodies are DIFFERENT. Not because of any misogyny or intentional sexism.
A female friend who is a former St. Louis City Police Officer absolutely HATED the SLPD's policy restricting her off duty carry choices. She could either carry her Beretta 92D, OR she could submit her choice to the Department to try to get it authorized. She would have to qualify with it, which she didn't have an issue with, however she told me they wanted her to put over 500 rounds through it, on HER time, and she would have to pay for the ammo and the range time. ORRRRR she could carry a S&W Model 36 or a Chief's Special. When what she WANTED to Carry was a Beretta 58. But SLPD's policies made it so she basically couldn't.
So again, there is a real dearth of holsters specifically designed for females as compared to males. I'm glad to see that there are more and more options becoming available.
Oh and my friend who was with SLPD? She went on to the US Marshal's Service, then to the FBI.
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