The Inhumane Practices of the American's Women Prison System

Intersectionality, White Supremacy, and Trauma

Abstract

The Women's American Prison System perpetuates psychological, physical, and behavioral trauma through intolerable living conditions, inadequate health care, abuse from prison staff, and inadequate programs. Despite the ever-growing population of incarcerated women, little research has been conducted regarding women's detention facilities and the intersection of race, sex, and poverty in molding their experiences. This paper explores the many ways females experience trauma both inside and outside the penitentiary, highlighting the disproportionate impact on intersecting marginalized identities. It also examines the physiological effects of trauma to understand women's mental states before, during, and after incarceration, and how factors such as appearance, background, and societal status contribute to their risk for arrest. The results urge for proactive measures to aid marginalized and oppressed groups to be effectively addressed, and for reactive strategies to be researched to improve prisons and support reintegration. A fundamental shift in prison culture -- or the formation of an alternative system -- is necessary to provide an adequate environment for rehabilitation, educational, and mental health programs, and overall safety for incarcerated women.