Abstract
While the vast majority of literature written about the experiences of those who receive life sentences has focused on men, there is growing attention on women. Dye and Aday’s new book Women Lifers: Lives Before, Behind, and Beyond Bars (Rowan & Littlefield) adds a powerful and in-depth look at the lives of women who are serving life sentences in three Georgia prisons. The authors offer a thorough and intimate look at women’s lives before and during prison, as well as their hopes and dreams after release. While not the first book published to look specifically at female lifers, this book offers a unique view and commentary on women’s pathways to life sentences, their adjustment to the carceral system, and the specific needs that are not always addressed through prison programming and policies.
The authors begin with a gendered profile of lifers in the United States and more specifically women in the state of Georgia. As sociologists, they conducted research over an 8-year period utilizing two surveys. They collected additional data through informal communications with participants. The authors support their findings with tables and charts that aid readers in understanding. They also intermittently provide short and interesting participant case histories that help highlight many of the book’s themes. Women Lifers offers a comprehensive analysis of how the needs of women with long prison sentences diverge from typical prison populations.
A significant portion of the book (Chapters 2 and 3) is dedicated to the women’s pathways to prison. Drawing on the research of Kathleen Daly and others, Dye and Aday offer evidence that highlights how primarily broken childhoods and traumatic experiences led the participants to their carceral system involvement. Issues such as addiction, low educational attainment, mental health problems, and abusive families and relationships are just a few of the common themes that arose in the research. The authors highlight that many of the lifers’ crimes appear to be in self-defense against an abusive partner or spouse. It is imperative to note that the authors use the participants’ own words throughout the book, and descriptions of their prior abuse are vivid in Chapter 3 (appropriately titled Bullied, Bruised and Battered), which can be an emotional read. For that reason, this specific chapter may potentially require a disclaimer if that chapter were to be assigned to students.
Life in a women’s prison has a typical adjustment period and its own set of norms. The authors offer a powerful glimpse into how female lifers “do time” and cope with prison life. Here, the authors show how women rebuild their lives on the inside. The ways in which women’s families, especially their kids, affect their adjustment in prison is such a central issue to the participants, that there is an entire chapter dedicated to discussing issues of maintaining contact and the barriers in preserving close and healthy relationships with people on the outside. While research on males also highlights the significance of family, the need to understand mothering from prison is an important contribution from this research. Additionally, Dye and Aday’s discussion of physical and mental health highlights the need for prisons to better care for aging women, including those who have sustained mental and physical injuries due to their histories of abuse and trauma. It is well-known that prison health care is lacking in many prisons, but few research studies have been able to focus this discussion on women’s prisons, as well as the diverse health care needs women lifers may have as they age behind bars. Additionally, the discussion of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation should receive special attention from readers interested in prisoner mental health and health policies. There is also a chapter focused on how women’s religious engagement increases during their time in prison through a process of transformation. Religion serves as one way that the women find community, deal with loss, build a sense of purpose and hope, and seek redemption. Overall, this analysis of life in prison emphasizes the broken misogynistic system that women lifers must endure.
Chapter 7 (Enduring Grief and Loss) is another vital contribution to the general literature on corrections. The authors highlight that there are many types of losses in prison, beyond just those of loss of freedom. For example, their discussion on the loss of identity is especially poignant as the women lose touch with the person they were in the outside world and become institutionalized. The themes of loss in this chapter offer a glimpse into how women cope with losing their autonomy. It also highlights the experiences women have when they learn that their friends within the prison, as well as friends and family on the outside, have passed away. The overall feeling of helplessness is evident. This chapter especially benefits from the use of direct quotes from the participants as it expands much of what is understood about causes of grief and how women face loss while incarcerated.
The chapter on reentry points to a deficit in many prisons in that programs are mostly for shorter sentences, and much of the time lifers spend in prison does not include the ability to participate in education, vocational training, and reentry programming. Although sentenced with long sentences, most of the women have the possibility of parole, yet the carceral system seems to have forgotten them, and the women often feel powerless and voiceless to express their concerns.
Women Lifers provides a poignant look at the U.S. prison system, especially as it applies to women and the need for reform. This book provides insights into an often-overlooked population and would benefit correctional scholars and professionals trying to better understand what is happening inside women’s prisons. The authors' discussion challenges the current narrative about women lifers, which can better inform policy, as well as future research. Well written and researched, this book is a valuable addition to the literature on understanding women’s corrections and the experiences of those who endure long sentences.
