Bove Andrew, Tryon Rebecca
1 University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine USA.
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2018 Nov;62(15):4814-4833. doi: 10.1177/0306624X18785100. Epub 2018 Jul 6.
Women are the fastest growing prison population in the United States. Women who are incarcerated are characterized by significant mental health needs and intense societal stigma. Despite such vulnerabilities, little is known about their experiences or the pathways that lead them toward recovery and rehabilitation. This qualitative research explores the lived experiences of incarcerated women sharing their stories with high school students and their teachers as part of a community outreach project entitled "Stories of Change." Six women were interviewed about what it was like to participate in the project. The data were coded and analyzed using phenomenological techniques, and the results were interpreted through a social constructionist framework. Five themes were revealed through an analysis of the interviews: (a) making a contribution, (b) connecting with others, (c) difficulty of telling their story, (d) identifying personal growth, and (e) moving forward. Storytelling is a powerful experience with lasting effects on the teller. This research explores the phenomenon of storytelling within a context of incarceration and stigma. These findings point toward the importance of providing programming to women within the criminal justice system that allows for meaningful interaction with normative individuals and opportunities for storytelling.
在美国，女性囚犯的数量增长最为迅速。被监禁的女性有着显著的心理健康需求，且面临着巨大的社会污名。尽管她们存在这些脆弱性，但对于她们的经历以及引领她们走向康复和改造的途径，我们却知之甚少。这项定性研究探讨了被监禁女性的生活经历，她们作为一个名为“变革故事”的社区外展项目的一部分，与高中生及其教师分享自己的故事。研究人员就参与该项目的感受对六位女性进行了访谈。使用现象学技术对数据进行编码和分析，并通过社会建构主义框架对结果进行解读。通过对访谈的分析揭示了五个主题：（a）做出贡献，（b）与他人建立联系，（c）讲述自己故事的困难，（d）认识到个人成长，以及（e）向前迈进。讲故事是一种对讲述者有持久影响的强大体验。本研究探讨了在监禁和污名背景下的讲故事现象。这些发现表明，在刑事司法系统中为女性提供相关项目非常重要，这些项目应能让她们与正常人群进行有意义的互动，并提供讲故事的机会。
