Lindsay Swan, Sarah (2024) Identities of Confinement: Understanding the Intersectional Experiences of Incarcerated Women in Ireland and Beyond. Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.

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Abstract

This research aims to inform the current penal landscape in Ireland for women intersecting across various identities. The intersectional basis for this study looks beyond just the singular axis views of women in prison through the context of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s explorations (1989) and considers other important factors that could shape their experiences, such as race, socioeconomic status, motherhood, age and the overarching factor of being a women, as they present as minorities within penal landscapes. Through Secondary Qualitative analysis from Irish and UK sources, this research evaluated the elements that shape women’s experiences interacting with healthcare and education inside prisons. The findings suggest that women are aware of their disparities and minority status’ as the acts of storytelling and information sharing within the prison system gives insights and evaluations that shape their experience. Foreign National Prisoners and particularly the Travelling Community experience oppression in mesa to macro levels and this encourages more diversity in staff approaches so that dehumanising forms of negative behaviour affecting women in the form of labelling for example, could reduce. Foreign National Prisoner’s also experience more concern about their family abroad at home and there is usually a desperation for money that leads to their incarceration. Women who are pregnant can also thrive in environments that support their wellbeing and needs. Comparisons between UK and Ireland showed that women can benefit more than others by being in prison but if there is an environment of hostility or improper facilities, this is not the case. Recommendations for future research could be explored both qualitatively as popularly recommended, or quantitatively through specialised cohorts of women in prison. Ireland’s newest prison in Limerick is also a positive opportunity to expand research in this area. Overall, this research contributes to Irish penology by combining sociological frameworks and applying them to existing resources, aiming to promote the various identities of women in prison and to encourage more qualitative, intersectional research in Ireland, particularly in the areas of education and upskilling.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Additional Information:	A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Keywords:	Identities; Confinement; Understanding; Intersectional Experiences; Incarcerated Women; Ireland; Beyond; Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Law
Item ID:	19069
Depositing User:	IR eTheses
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2024 11:00
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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