Incarceration and Older Women: Giving Back Not Giving Up

by Regina Benedict, Lois Presser (Editor), Beth Easterling (Editor)

Overview

Generativity or ‘giving back’ is regarded as a common life stage, occurring for many around middle age. For the first time, this book offers qualitative research on the lives and social relationships of older imprisoned women. In-depth interviews with 29 female prisoners in the south-eastern United States show that older women both engage in generative behaviours in prison and also wish to do so upon their release.

As prisoners continue to age, the US finds itself at a crossroads on prison reform, with potential decarceration beginning with older prisoners. The COVID-19 pandemic has led many to consider how to thrive under difficult circumstances and in stressing the resilience of older incarcerated women, this book envisions what this could look like.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781529231656
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	01/21/2025
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	142
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Regina White Benedict, PhD (1976-2021) was Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program at Maryville College, a program she founded. With a passion for social justice, Benedict studied incarceration as a gendered experience, focusing on the complex identities and lives of older female inmates from a feminist perspective.

The Dr. Regina White Benedict Scholarship at Maryville College was established in 2022 to support students of criminal justice, especially non-traditional women working toward their college degree at Maryville.

Lois Presser is Professor of Sociology at the University of Tennessee.

Beth Easterling is Visiting Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Roanoke College.

Table of Contents

1. Ageing Less than Gracefully

2. Welcome to My Home: Cell Block D

3. Older, Wiser, and Incarcerated

4. A Positively Negative Experience

5. Parenting Behind Bars

6: Ageing in Their Own Words: Peace of Mind, Body, and Circumstances

7. ‘Usefulness’ of a ‘Useless’ Population

8. Why Not Give Them a Chance?

Afterword

Appendices

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Finally placing aging women inmates at the forefront of the conversation on growing old in prison, this book provides an excellent analysis of the experiences of giving back while incarcerated.” Jennifer A. Schlosser, Coastal Carolina University

“Capturing day-to-day struggles, this book fills an important void as it examines women’s search for positive prison experiences. It contributes significantly to our understanding of prison life for women, especially with the recent emphasis on successful aging in prison.” Ronald H. Aday, Middle Tennessee State University

Editorial Reviews

"A valuable, broad exploration of imprisoned older women’s experiences. Highly recommended." Choice

From the Publisher