In the Mix: Struggle and Survival in a Women's Prisonn (Suny Series in Women, Crime and Criminology)
Book Description: The first book-length treatment of the nature of prison culture among women in thirty years, "In the Mix" describes the prison culture in a large California prison, from the point of view of the women themselves. Based on three years of study, including participant-observation, in-depth interviews and surveys, this book describes the daily life of the prison from a variety of perspectives, with an emphasis on the gendered nature of its social organization, roles and normative frameworks.
The title, "In the Mix," describes the contours of prison culture and its themes of trouble, programming and relationships. Common themes, such as the impact of substance use, limited economic opportunity, patriarchy, survival on the streets and in the prison, thread through the individual chapters. Owen argues that prison culture for women is tied directly to the role of women in society as well as a dynamic social structure that is shaped by the conditions of women's lives in prison and in the "free world."
Subjects: Penology & punishment, Women's studies, Social Science, Sociology, USA, Criminology, Penology, Women's Studies - General, California, Case studies, Central California Women's Fac, Reformatories for women, Social life and customs, Women prisoners,
In The MIX
As a past employee in the education department at CCWF I can confirm this book is an accurate, realistic representation of the institution from both the staff and inmate perspective. I'm glad we have prisons, there are some inmates we don't ever want in our neighborhood. However, I was pleased that Ms. Owen presented inmates as human with feelings and emotions. I was also pleased that she emphasized the abusive background that most female inmates have experienced as well as the persistant drug issues. The only thing I noted that is different now is there is no longer tobacco in all state prisons. Ms. Owen did a lot of research!
STEPHEN C. RICHARDS, PROFESSOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH
THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST RECENT ACCOUNT OF WOME IN PRISON, WOMEN IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS, AND WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT. I USE THIS BOOK IN MY WOMEN AND CRIME COURSE WHERE IT IS WELL RECEIVED BY UNDERGRADUATE CJ STUDENTS.
Understanding Women in Prison
This is a fascinating book about women in prison and the different world they inhabit. Author Barbara Owen, a criminologist and experienced prison researcher, used a quasi-ethnographic method to study a large prison for women -- in her words, she did a lot of "hanging around." While doing so she talked in great depth to both inmates and prison staff, and we learn a lot from those conversations and her insightful analyses of them.
This book helps us to understand the lives of women inmates and what led them to prison. Many suffered abuse and trauma of various kinds, and most would be considered "marginalized" women in society. Owen explores the contexts of the choices the women made as each progressed down her "pathway to prison." The author illuminates how the prison experience is much different for women than for men prisoners. While men often "do time" on their own, women emphasize relationships, both with other inmates as well as with family members left behind. A prison for women is much safer than one for men. Most women inmates seek a useful way to structure their lives in prison and prepare for a better future, though some do not. Those who want to continue the way of life that led them to crime and prison become involved "in the mix", prison slang for the negative side of the culture and activities there.
If the reader is interested in why women get involved in crime (much less so than men, by the way) and what happens in a prison for women, this highly readable book is for you.
