Text

theses

Though women are less likely than men to be incarcerated and are disproportionately outnumbered in United States jails and prisons (Guerino et al., 2011; Minton, 2013), women in state facilities are more likely to report being parents (Glaze & Maruschak, 2008; Mumola, 2000) and most plan to rekindle maternal relationships with their children upon their release (Barnes & Stringer, 2014; Hairston, 1991). Research demonstrates that women face substantial burdens during their reentry into the community, but reentry burdens may be more challenging to women of color who stand at the intersection of sexism and racism (Brown, 2010; Roberts, 1993). Ethnic differences among Black women are overlooked, however, as existing knowledge of women’s experiences is often constructed along a Black/White dichotomy. Furthermore, self-conceptions as mothers, social expectations of mothers, and attempts to mother may place additional burdens on formerly incarcerated women with children. Yet, motherhood is still understood as a motivating factor in women’s lives post-incarceration (Brown & Bloom, 2009; Hayes, 2009). This study investigates how formerly incarcerated women navigate motherhood and how this process influences mothers’ reintegration after their release from imprisonment. The research draws on 37 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated mothers. These women’s narratives focus on the role that maternal desires, decisions and behaviors play across various aspects of life post-incarceration: parenting, employment and finances, living arrangements, custody of children, as well as recovery from histories of addiction. This study utilized a comparative sampling strategy to unpack the experiences of groups viewed collectively as “minorities” and to examine similarities and differences among African American, West Indian and Hispanic formerly incarcerated mothers. There is also a comparative feature across varying degrees of contact with children (both minor and adult children) – specifically, mothers living with their children, mothers not living with their children but remaining in contact, and mothers without contact. This study not only examines post-incarceration reintegration for formerly incarcerated mothers but it captures the intersectionality of criminal status, gender, and race/ethnicity. Furthermore, its comparative features go beyond common racial-ethnic labels and classifications of mother-child relationships in understanding the role of navigating motherhood in women’s reintegration after incarceration.

ETD_7988

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Janet Garcia-Hallett

doi:10.7282/T341710R

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.