Soledad Women - Wives of Prisoners Speak Out

Little attention has been paid to the lives led by families of prisoners. Using a feminist approach, the author explores how the lives of 25 wives of prisoners at Soledad prison are affected by the incarceration of their husbands. Relationships, stigma, coping, finances, children, the prison system, and rehabilitation are explored through in-depth interviews. This study describes the experiences of the wives and seeks to connect their experiences to a conceptual framework that explores the context of sex, race, and class inequalities. The author discusses prison policy recommendations to improve the lot of prisoners' families, emphasizing the ways in which life is organized in families where the husband/father is imprisoned. Several themes emerge in this work. The powerful role of the wife, women as caretakers, and the subordinate position these women hold in society due to their sex, class, and race, are some examples. Recommendations are made to ease the burden of visiting, and encourage maintenance of family roles.

List of contents

Prologue: I Leave in the Dark of Morning
Introduction
Why Study Wives of Prisoners?
Families and Incarceration
Data
Living with Secrets
Relationship Realities
Family Finances
Visiting at the Prison
Dealing with the System
The Role of the Family
Conclusion
Prison Policy and Recommendations
Wives as Caretakers: There's More to It than That
Appendix A: Questionnaire
Appendix B: Follow-up Survey Summary
Appendix C: The Author on Her Research Experience
References

About the author

LORI B. GIRSHICK is on the faculty of Warren Wilson College, where she teaches sociology and women's studies courses. She has experience in the domestic violence field and has worked in an agency providing services to people with HIV. Dr. Girshick's work has appeared in The Prison Journal, Reproductive Health Resources, Violence Update, Policy Studies Journal, and Policy Issues for the Elderly Poor.

Product details

• Authors: Lori B. Girshick, Girshick Lori B.
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 7 to 17
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 21.06.1996
• EAN: 9780275954093
• ISBN: 978-0-275-95409-3
• No. of pages: 160
• Weight: 425 g
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; USA, Cultural Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / Marriage & Family, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Penology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Services, Social welfare & social services, Sociology: family & relationships, United States of America, USA, Social welfare and social services, Gender studies: women, Gender studies: women and girls, Penology and punishment, Sociology: family and relationships, Penology & punishment, Current Events and Issues: Society