Abstract
Young, P. (1993). Mothers in Prison: The Experience of Being Separated from Their Children Unpublished Master of Social Science Thesis. Hamilton: University of Waikato.
My reasons for undertaking this research study lie in my concern over the results of the invisibility of women within the prison system in our society. The numbers of women being imprisoned in New Zealand are small, approximately five percent of the overall prison population, and knowledge of women's experience, especially mothers' experience, of the prison system is poorly documented which is historically reflective of women's experience generally. Then mothers are imprisoned they are thereby separated from their children, resulting in the women, and the children, experiencing a great deal of pain and anguish which should not be considered to be part of the punishment prescribed by the courts. It is with their situation in particular that I am concerned in this thesis.
The prison system is a male oriented structure which does not cater to the needs of women, and especially not the needs of women with children. Mothers experience this paternalistic system while worrying about their children and having to endure an almost alien environment, that is cold, unfeeling and forces them to be "staunch" in order to survive. Mothers, in the role of motherhood, are expected to maintain a warm, caring, feeling environment for their children. Whereas fathers serving prison terms can, in most cases, feel some assurance that their children are being cared for by the mother.
My research was a joint project with Tania Anstiss, a psychologists with the Department of Justice. She was assessing the effectiveness of her role within the prison and my aim was to examine in as much detail as possible the nature of the experiences of a group of mothers serving prison sentences. Interviews were conducted with convicted women prisoners at Mt Eden Prison, Female Division, in July, 1992, Seventeen women took part, thirteen of whom were mothers. The interviews took the form of informal discussion groups held with the women in their wings within the prison. Topics discussed revolved around the women's experience of being in prison, with a specific focus for my study on mothers being separated from their children.
While the number of women interviewed makes up a relatively small sample, it is suggested that their experiences may be fairly typical of all prisoners who are mothers.
In summary it may be stated that pain of separation was the most significant reaction that emerged, together with a widespread blocking of emotions to help the women survive their time in prison. The women spoke of worry and anxiety about their children and families while they were in prison, with expressions of frustration at not being able to fulfil their role as primary caregiver. Maintaining satisfactory contact with their families posed a problem for the women, which caused further stress and anxiety.
The role of motherhood is not taken into account in prison structures, rules and routines, so that there are many difficulties for women prisoners and their families to overcome. The main practical difficulties, which further promoted stress for women and their families, were unsuitable visiting arrangements, lack of information for families and women prisoners, harsh financial regulations, restrictive policies for making telephone contact with their families and the general debilitating experience of being in prison. Because women's role as primary caregivers is not taken into account in justice system structures, women are doubly punished - once for their offences and again for "failing" mothers. On the basis of their experience venture to make some recommendations for changes in the practical administration of the prison. Recommended changes to the c current prison system include; the Department of Justice supporting more research into the experiences of mothers in prison with a view to examining alternatives other that prison; development and provision of functional a effective information leaflets for mothers on first admission to prison; the Department of Justice supporting and encouraging Mt Eden Prison Female Division management to take all steps necessary to improve their visiting facilities; the authority for each prison take steps to explore ways of improving communication with prisoners and their families; and the question of improving the quality of educational facilities for women prisoners be examined urgently with a view to implementation as soon as possible. |
Community Psychology