Ada Gamez

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hernandez, Sarah

Area of Concentration

Social Sciences with Spanish Language and Cultures Secondary Field

Abstract

In this study I examine the unique challenges faced by incarcerated Black mothers within the criminal justice system and how their race and gender contribute to the difficulties they face when returning to freedom. I pay particular attention to the way motherhood impacts Black mothers during and post incarceration. This study employs a combination of statistical data and content analysis. Statistical data provides a generalized view of the conditions of incarceration for Black women. Through content analysis of first-hand accounts of 4 incarcerated Black mothers I share in depth insight into how their lived experiences have impacted them in different areas of their lives, as well as their kids and families.Through these analyses I not only introduce the reader to life in the prison system; and the need for prison reform, but also analyze how Black mothers have been socially constructed and how the effects of incarceration creates a domino effect into other aspects of the Black community. This research highlights the immediate and long-term impacts that incarceration has on these women, their children and their families; as well as the way poverty, racism, and sexism intersect to disproportionality and negatively impact the lives of Black mothers. This thesis provides examples of the ways prison reform initiatives contribute greatly to aiding these mothers in their reintegration into society.

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