Blog # 21

According to NAFCO they are working to be the national voice for female correctional officers. They want to work toward the elimination of harassment and sexual assault of female officers by improving conditions within prisons and using upgraded technology. They state that rape and sexual assault or sexual harassment of female officers is a big issue that needs to be stopped. They are working hard to get an act passed that would help eliminate these types of assaults against female officers. They argue that inmates who are the perpetrators of sexual assault need to be prosecuted and there needs to be strict guidelines for how those types of assaults need to be handled. Having sever punishments for assaulting a female officer will also help eliminate future occurrences.

This is also consistent with Britton’s study. Many women correctional officers have mentioned being scared of certain tasks involved with working within a prison, and many male officers have mentioned fearing for their female counterpart’s safety. Within the study, Britton also found that there are certain positions that are considered to be too dangerous or threatening for women officers, so those tasks are given to men. For example, supervising showers or dormitories are two tasks that are considered to be too dangerous or unsafe jobs for women.
Although this is not formally written in the job description or prison policies, it is just understood. This understanding often would bring a mix of emotions for the female officers because they felt that the other male officers were being sexist toward them or looking down on them because they needed protection. However, it also gave these women a sense of security and they appreciated the chivalrous intentions from their male coworkers. There are also issues of discrimination when it comes to women working in prisons. For example, women are often overlooked for promotions because they do not take part in socializing with the boys. Or they are more likely to turn down promotions that would initial them moving because of their families at home. There have also been some officers in the study who were turned down for a promotion because they would not respond with sexual favors. These issues are issues that women correctional officers should not have to face while doing their jobs, which is why it is important to Britton and NAFCO to have these issues exposed.

Blog # 20

First and foremost, I think the hostage did a good job keeping her alive and keeping the situation under control. She was able to make the inmates identify her as a human and not just an object which helped keep her alive. She was able to identify with the inmates and she was able to get inside their heads by telling them lies about her childhood. I think that this hostage situation does reflect conditions described in Britton’s study. For example, Louis Fraley, was the woman taken hostage but two inmates. This was a result of these two men feeling they could over power a woman and she would not be able to handle the violent encounter as well as a male would be. Also, as mentioned in Britton’s study, the concern for female correctional officers is relevant because they are often more exposed to sexual harassments and assault.
A second notable thing in this situation is how the Arizona Prison System is considered a gendered organization. For example, the director, Dora Schriro, was looked down on in the beginning of this ordeal. Many people criticized her because she was a woman coming in and taking over a man’s job and she was criticized on how she handled the hostage situation. However, as a result of the way she handled the situation everyone made it out alive, which made her the first to accomplish that. Many women in the chosen field are taught in training that emotions can be bad and they could get in the way of decision making in high risk situations, however, both Fraley and Schriro used their emotions to handle the situation with resulted in a positive way and no one was hurt.

This was a good example of Britton’s “keepers” and “turkeys” because when Schriro needed information on the prisons structure, the hostage, and the inmates, the information was not available. This is one of the things that Schriro seeks to change. She does not want inmates to just be kept but she wants them to be able to leave the prison with a trade so they can change their lives and not have to return to prison. She also made an effort to retrain the correctional officers on how to deal with certain situations which would make their overall job experience more beneficial. It is expressed in the article that those who ran the AZ prison system prior to Schriro, ran the prison like those of “keepers” and “turkeys” which basically means the inmates were locked up and forgotten about. This also resulted in less constructive training for the correctional officers.

Prisons are considered total institutions because they are like their own communities that are separate from society. The people who are in the prison, guards and inmates, only socialize with other guards and inmates. I also think the NBC documentary earlier in the unit helps show how prisons are considered total institutions. For example, the documentary was of a women’s prison which explores the bonds inmates have with each other. It also shows how these women are allowed to work within the prison walls to earn a living and also develop a trade that would later aid them once they were released. This is important for the institution itself because it is giving back to society as a whole but is also creating a community for the inmates. This similar situation seems to be what Schriro wants to achieve.

I think media and the on the job training has a lot to do with officered being endangered on the job. The media portrays correctional officers to be big, burly men that are capable of meeting violence with violence. These guards are armed men that are capable of restoring order to meanest and most violent offenders. Also when it comes to training, we still have this stereotypical image of the correctional officer, so training focuses on being able to handle the violent encounters with physical strength. I personally agree that Britton’s recommendations may have been useful in avoiding the situation. I think the media needs to have a different image when it comes to correctional officers so that way people in our society do not get the wrong impressions. Also, different training should be given to female and male guards and this training should also be based on the population they are going to be working with. It is true that men and women have different skill sets and it is important to understand that both men and women correctional officers are important in prisons but their different skills should be utilized and welcomed instead of trying to make them the same. This should also be relevant when dealing with male or female inmates. I think that Schriro is moving the Arizona prison system in the right direction, but like all things, change generally takes a while to grasp.

Blog # 19

Media has a huge influence on the way people view the world. For example, our preconceptions of prisons are mostly based off of movies as well as our stereotypes for correctional officers. As mentioned in other posts, inmates are generally seen as violent and monster like. While correctional officers are generally stereotyped as being mean, masculine, and having the ability to match violence with violence to maintain order. In more recent decades, it has become more common for women to play roles in films that grant them power and allow them to express violence. However, prior to recent decade’s women were always portrayed as good housewives with typical ladylike roles. As Geena Davis explained, when the movie she started in, Thelma and Louis, there was a big controversy because they did not fit the typical women characters.

In the video with Geena Davis, she explains how there are gendered differences in media. She explains how in media the roles of women are based off of males. For example, she uses the example of Winnie the Poo and how out of all the characters there is only one female character. Kanga is the female character who does not even count as a complete character because her whole existence in the series revolves around her son Roo. This type of gendering as children becomes relevant in the positions with co-workers. For example, when children view these types of shows, they subconsciously develop a notion that women are less than men because they are portrayed as such in these shows which causes an imbalance that will affect them into adulthood. This is definitely relevant in the study by Britton. She explains how in the study, all of the top paying positions were all males with the exception of one. This type of media influence also makes us believe that women are incapable of handling violent situations because women are taught to not use violence. Also, the study with Britton explains male views of female co-workers. Many males fear for their female co-workers because they can be more vulnerable in violent situations and there is more of a threat for women when it comes to sexual harassment within the prison walls.

Blog # 17

The NBC documentary was definitely an eye opener for me on how women’s prisons are run and what they are like. I personally have never been to a prison, however I have family members who have worked as correctional officers in men’s prisons and I have heard stories, but I never knew anything about women’s prisons. This made this documentary very interesting, because it is like a little community. The women are all very emotional and needy, which allows them to cling to each other and form tight bonds with other inmates. I was shocked to find that many of the women are pregnant in the NBC documentary and I found it interesting to know that they receive prenatal care as well and their children are delivered in outside hospitals. Also, I found it very interesting that women were allowed to work in different trades and I feel that this is a very good thing because it helps women get experience in a trade that will aid them when they are released from prison. This would allow them to have a different set of skills than they previously had, which would help keep them from returning to prison. However, I was shocked at the flexibility of the prisons for women. They allow them to use dangerous tools such as sheers or objects to make teeth and they also allow them to have make-up and other toiletries that to some would be considered luxury items. Also, the guards seemed very friendly within this prison with the inmates and there was like a teacher-student type of bonds or similarly a motherly bond between the inmates and the guards. A main difference that I found within the movie that the text did not mention was the precautions that male officers had to take while working within a female institution. For example, I was not aware that when escorting a woman to a different location, a male officer had to be accompanied by a female officer. Also, when entering a dormitory building, the male officer had to announce that they were entering into the building.

Both the text by Britton and the documentary explain that dangers can arise when relationships are built with inmates. They explain that forming a bond with the inmates can help the situation, however when those lines are crossed there can be serious consequences. In Britton’s study, the officers have mentioned that women inmates are needy and their emotions are unpredictable which can lead to dangerous consequences. The women play mind games, which could jeopardize the safety of the other inmates, of the guards and also the jobs of the guards.

Within the two documentaries and the text by Britton, there are several assumptions and perceptions of inmates. Many officers assume that all inmates are violent and will treat them in that manner. Generally, the officers will develop one of two preconceptions. The inmates made a mistake but they are still human, or the inmates are too privileged. Many officers can view privileged inmates as a good thing, because when they act up, there is more to take away from them as a punishment. However, many officers that took place in this study explained that they believed that the inmates were completely responsible for their actions. The officers also commented on the fact that women inmates treat male correctional officers different than female correctional officers.

The minority correctional officers explained how they have certain issues while working in prisons. Some minority officers expressed the difficulty of sharing a bond on color and ethnicity with the inmates because minorities make up a large number in the prison population. Some of the officers also expressed a feeling of double consciousness. They express this by the social construct of how inmates are to be treated is similar to racism, so the minority officers feel that they can relate to the treatment that is being inflicted on the inmates. Also, minority officers generally find it more difficult to express humanistic attitudes towards inmates such as objectifying them or to infantilize them, than their white counterparts. The study by Britton also explains that many correctional officers take on the role of being either a motherly figure or a fatherly figure to the inmates instead of objectifying them. It is important to note that even though the inmates are viewed as humans who have made a mistake, it is important for the officers to remember they are not equal.

Blog # 18

In many prisons, there are gender-neural policies that are established, but generally these policies that are supposed to be neutral often become more masculine. For example, in our society, inmates are thought to be violent offenders who are animalistic and have no civilization. They are pretty much portrayed as monsters which that misconception of inmates can cause the guards to act out in an inappropriate manner. It becomes a masculine notion to be mean and violent with inmates even when the treatment is supposed to be gender-neutral. Along with the treatment of inmates, officers often take on a role of being a mother figure or a father figure to the inmates. They see those inmates as human, but treat them like children because they are not to be considered as equals. Another aspect that is supposed to be gender-neutral is on the job training. For example, all the material covered in training is taught to both men and women; however the material and the physical tests are based off of male officers. Also, in the unit involving sexual harassment, this is mostly for women officers.

Men’s and women’s prisons are very different in the type of treatment they receive. For example, in women prisons many inmates have more access to activities such as sewing, crochet supplies, and toiletries. These women are often allowed more time for cleanliness and bonding time than their male counterparts. In both male and female prisons, the guards often find themselves forming bonds with the inmates. Generally, correctional officers develop one of two thought process about inmates. The first is generally, that the inmates have made a mistake or mistakes, but they are still human, or the second form of thoughts about inmates is they are too privileged. This is a main argument in women’s facilities and when officers are asked if they preferred working with male inmates or female inmates, most said they preferred males because women are to emotional. Due to the high unpredictability of women’s emotions it is hard to determine what to expect, many officers in this study confirmed that women play mind games and they are often harder to control than male inmates. A main cause of the difference in treatment is the security of the facility. Women are generally in lower security facilities which allows for more flexibility.

Blog # 16

According to Britton, not many children aspire to become a correctional officer. In fact in a study in 1982, adolescents between the ages of 14 and 22 were asked what type of jobs they wanted and only 0.1% wanted to be prison guards and other that percentage, 95% were males. So from childhood, becoming a correctional officer is already on a gendered path. Britton also explains that many do not choose to go into this profession and it is often a last resort which makes it more difficult to retain officers for long periods of time. In the study, previous work experience plays a role in becoming a correctional officer. For example, of the men officers studied, 44% had military experience as to where only 7% of females had military experience. For women, about 37% of correctional officers came from clerical positions and took the position as a last resort. This separation in prior work experience shows that there is sex segregation in occupations.

According to the study, the prior job experience did not really matter. Many of the women found that being a correctional officer was similar to childcare. Both men and women were attracted to this type of job because the pay and benefits. This type of job pays well and only requires a GED or a high school diploma, which can be very beneficial for single mothers who need job security. I think society enforces a preconception of prisons that often scares people about the job. Prisons are portrayed to be violent and scary, and those involved in the study reported that they actually are not how we think they are. The training for a correctional officer is not gendered at all. Both men and women are required to study the same curriculum and pass the same fitness tests. The training is all on the job training in areas such as handgun usage, self defense, and strategies on how to deal with inmates. However, in training there are specific units on sexual harassment that are typically geared toward women.

Blog # 15

In the United States, prisons have been around for about two hundred years. In the begging there was no separation of women and men. During these times women were often thought of as not women because they did not follow typical gender norms. It was thought that if a woman was raped while she was in prison, it was her own fault. It was also difficult because women were treated either the same as men, or worse by the prison guards. There was a difference in their tasks while being in prison as well. The women were given tasks such as cooking, sewing, or cleaning, while men were not given these tasks. Soon after came the reform movement, where we moved away from corporal punishment and made other changes to prisons. Many women were also moved to halfway homes, which at the time were almost like a wayward home for little girls. Here the women inmates were taught how to be proper women and taught how to be domestic. This also resulted in the separation which stopped rapes, allowed for feminine care, and they were managed by women staff. Also, while women were being taught to cook and clean, men prisoners were generally “leased” to do construction work or working on the railroad. Also, the role of officer’s differed in these institutions well. Women officers were expected to be more motherly, or like mentors while men were expected to be the parliamentary mold. However, now there is a difference in the numbers of inmates that are being held in US prisons. Women inmates are growing much more quickly than male inmates. Also, the role of officer’s differed in these institutions well. Women officers were expected to be more motherly, or like mentors while men were expected to be the parliamentary mold.

In Arizona, the first prison was in Yuma and there was no separation for women. Often times, the Governor of Yuma often pardoned the women inmates and they were released much sooner than men inmates. With the reform also came the separation of males and females, and the separate institutes in Arizona are still around today.

Blog #14

Through this book, Britton seeks to explain how gender in reproduced in all aspects of being involved with a prison. She uses the theory of gendered organizations as the basis to answer her question and she states, “the theory argues that we should see organizations not as neutral organisms infected by the germs of workers’ gender (and sexuality, and race, and class) identities but as sites in which these attributes are present in preexisting assumptions and constructed through ongoing practices” (Britton, 2003, 3).
I think an example of an ongoing organization in which gendering is a process is within schools. From the time we are in kindergarten all the way through adulthood institutions such as schools teach how each gender is supposed to be performed. For example, in my gender com class, we did a unit on how children are taught to communicate gender. All the readings explained how during play time, boys were encouraged to go play outside and explore, or draw, or play with cars, or trucks and they were usually able to play louder, On the other hand, the little girls were usually encouraged to stay inside, play with dolls, or toys that they could play house with. The readings also said the little girls were often asked to be quieter more than the boys. This is still relevant at the college level. For example, if a girl has short hair, does not wear make-up, and wears baggy clothes, she is often thought to be less of a woman or have more masculine traits, which are frowned upon. The same would go for a guy, generally if a guy is sensitive or more feminine, he is thought to be a mama’s boy, a sissy, and he is thought of to be less of a man.
I think that she means it depends on the organization to determine how gender is structured. For example, in prisons women and men are stereotyped, and women make less money than their male counterparts. This is an example of gendering in the organization. This could be a result of the public and private sphere separation. These are gendered concepts because they are created for the man. In the private sphere, the wife and family existed, and the wife stayed at home to do the cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Then the man had his public sphere, where he had his job, his politics, and was able to interact with his friends. This is a gendered set of terms because in history women had their place in the private sphere and the two did not mix. This however changed with WWII when women went to work in factories while their husbands were over seas.

Blog # 13

According to Britton, generally the stereotypical correctional officers that we picture are armed males. They are generally large in size, very masculine, brutal, and are capable of meeting violent encounters with violence. These men are the meanest of men, because they are the protectors of prisons and they have to be able to control criminals. This image is highly popularized in police movies and other prison movies such as ConAir (Britton, 2003). However, this image is not accurate with the statistics of corrections officers. These officers are not armed and women make up about 19% of corrections officers in federal and state prisons, 16% of officers in men’s prisons, and 56% of officers in women’s prisons (Britton, 2003).

When women are said to be corrections officers, they are generally stereotyped as being more masculine than “normal” women, and more violent than normal women. The corrections officers generally are thought to exhibit more male like traits. Women in these positions are also seen as less than their male counterparts. They do not receive the same salaries as males and they are often put up for promotions less than men. It is also thought that women corrections officers cannot handle violent situations the way men can.

Within prisons there are some differences in the images of males in female and male prisons. For example, in a female prison there is the issue of privacy and abuse. In earlier prison times, men officers were allowed to beat women, some were beaten to death and even raped. Although, this should no longer be an issue now, that could still be a concern. In male prisons, the officers are seen as those who enforce the law and there is no issue of privacy or the role the officer plays. There is also a difference in the position women hold in facilities. When a woman is present in a male facility it is possible for them to be given a hard time by inmates and they have to prove they can handle male inmates. However, in female facilities they do not have this same struggle.

BLog # 12

Although we have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex it still exists because it is something that is socialized. The best way to describe it is that is a part of a bureaucracy that was formed by our founding fathers at the time when women were not part of the work force or any rights. Although women have come a long way, this bureaucracy still is a main factor in the discrimination by sex. We have been socialized that women still belong in the home, or in career’s that require nurturing, such as teachers, nurses, or social workers. On the other hand, men are still thought to be the breadwinner and receive higher salary on average than women, and they go into jobs such as engineering, automotive, and construction. This gender socialization causes the genders to maintain what is expected because there are many negative associations with stepping outside the norm. However, by taking the risk to step outside the norm also has many benefits and rewards. Research has also found that this type of segregations is a main contributor of women being in poverty.
Aside from being socialized that each gender has specific jobs they should do, the institutions also contribute to segregation. For example, during the application process and into the interview process, men and women are first stereotyped by their gender. If the job is something that is primarily done by men, then the position is more likely to go to a man than a woman applicant. Although it is more difficult to step into these types of situations, there are many advantages for women if they are able to break into male dominant occupations. For example, the salary is generally better in male dominant jobs such as engineering, construction, aviation, and other trades. Another advantage of non-traditional jobs is for many women, it would allow them to move out of poverty because it would create more job stability.
In my opinion, I do not feel men will lose by women entering into these types of jobs. It creates better opportunities for women and their families, so men would benefit from this as well. The poverty rates would go down, so men would not be contributing as much to welfare and other government aid programs that assist women in poverty. It creates more competition, which most men are generally a fan of and it allows for different opportunities as well as a different type of co-worker companionship. I personally think that women breaking into male dominated occupations would benefit everyone.