SEX ROLE STEREOTYPES AND JUSTICE FOR WOMEN

• NCJ Number: 53971
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 87-94
• Author(s): C FEINMAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER ORIGINALLY PRESENTED AT THE WESTERN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, DENVER, COLORADO, APRIL 22, 1977

Annotation

A HISTORY OF CORRECTIONAL HANDLING AND COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD FEMALE OFFENDERS IS TRACED FROM THE 1800'S TO TODAY, AND THE CURRENT SITUATION IS EXAMINED THROUGH THE CORRECTIONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTHOR.

Abstract

IN EXAMINING THE HISTORY OF THE TREATMENT OF THE FEMALE INMATE IN THE COURSE OF THE 200 YEAR HISTORY OF THE MODERN PRISON SYSTEM, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, WHILE IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATMENT HAVE OCCURED, PRISON PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ATTITUDES ENCOUNTERED IN REINTEGRATION STILL EMBRACE THE SEXUAL STEREOTYPING THAT EXPECTS WOMEN TO CONFORM TO CERTAIN OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL ROLES PERCEIVED AS NORMATIVE FOR WOMEN. IT IS NOTED THAT EVEN THE HISTORIC FEMALE REFORMERS WHO UNDERTOOK REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS SET THE OBJECTIVES FOR TREATMENT TO BE CONFORMITY TO THE STEREOTYPED IMAGE OF THE FEMALE AS SEXUALLY PURE, SUBMISSIVE, AND FAMILY-ORIENTED. BASED ON THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE AS THE PROJECT DIRECTOR OF A REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN THE NEW YORK CITY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN, SHE CONCLUDES THAT SEX ROLE STEREOTYPES CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE EX-OFFENDER'S OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN THE COMMUNITY. POOR, UNEDUCATED, AND UNSKILLED WOMEN ARE REPORTED TO PREDOMINATE IN FEMALE PRISON POPULATIONS, WHILE THE PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER STAFFS COME FROM THE MIDDLE-CLASS WHO SEE THE NEED TO TEACH INMATES DOMESTIC SKILLS, STANDARDS OF SEXUAL MORALITY, AND SOBRIETY. ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PRISONS WHICH COULD PREPARE THE WOMEN FOR SKILLED, WELL-PAYING JOBS ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE FAILED. THE FAULT IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE IN THE ATTITUDES OF THE INMATES AS WELL AS PRISON ADMINISTRATORS, AS THEY HAVE REFUSED TRAINING IN NONTRADITIONAL FIELDS THAT OFFER COMPARATIVELY HIGH WAGES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PERSISTENCE OF FEMALE ROLE STEREOTYPES IN THE MINDS OF FEMALE OFFENDERS, CORRECTIONAL STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY OBSTRUCTS DISCOVERY OF THE REAL CAUSES OF FEMALE CRIME, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS REQUIRED FOR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL, AND SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION OF FEMALE EX-OFFENDERS INTO THE COMMUNITY. (RCB)