Different Attitudes towards the Women Convicts - Assignment Example

Running Header: Debates in Australian History Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Debates in Australian History Question 3: (Work by historians during recent decades has helped us to gain a more complete and richer understanding of the lives of convicts, both men and women. Discuss, analyze and evaluate the various debates centered on the changes in attitudes towards the women convicts). Introduction It has never been easy for any member in a given society to understand or tolerate convicts. This is because of the blanket perception that as convicts they deserve what they get. In many societies all over the world, convicts form a very high percentage of the most marginalized people. This is as they serve their jail terms or their life outside jail after successfully serving their jail terms. Prisons are strategically placed in any given society to ensure that they have the ability to rectify and give convicts a second lease of life. This is after they were tried and charged for crimes that they committed. While in jail, many of the convicts have come out better than they were before. They have acquired skills that would ensure that they can fit in the society’s shoes once they are released. People and the society’s attitudes are some of the hardest things for the convicts to shake off. Women and men convicts have to live with the persisting negative attitudes from the society. In recent years, it has been observed that the attitude towards women convicts has drastically changed in Australia and many parts of the world. This paper aims to analyze all the debates put forth explaining the changing attitudes towards women convicts. For a very long time, women convicts were shunned as a very rare negative feature (Kay, 1980). This is because prisons and all the activities that were carried out in there were deemed masculine. It was common for women convicts to be deemed immoral. They were considered women of loose behaviour who deserved to be entirely cut off from society. They were to have absolutely no connection to their families and friends. Society put them in the pedestal of the most classless people in society. This was as compared to the men convicts. In many instances, men convicts were treated as people who carried out negative activities that were considered “normal”. The punishment that they got for their deeds was viewed as “normal” as compared to women convicts. This is one of the reasons that created a very sharp division in the general attitude and perception of men and women convicts. There are very many factors that contributed to this changed attitudes. These factors coupled with effective debates contributed significantly to the changing attitudes towards women convicts (Alexander, 2005). The debates were held and controlled in many forms of media and education by very many interested parties. They used educative forums to ensure that as many people understood the issue at hand and its magnitude. The society was sensitized about the dangers of the negative attitude inflicted towards women convicts. It is at this point that the perception and attitudes of women convicts begun to change. The metamorphosis was as a result of a couple of strategies that were employed from time to time in respect to the issue (Ungerer, 2007). Human rights Human rights have changed from what they used to be ten years ago and what they are now. This is in respect to all the calls that are being made to respect and uphold human rights. Women have fought for their rights to be upheld at each and every level in society. This includes in prisons and other forms of detainment facilities. The aspect of what human rights are and what they entail has definitely contributed to the change experienced towards women convicts. The historical process that has been observed and taken from past decades has ensured that women convicts and their experiences are understood. This is what has ensured that the convicted women are understood. Documented proof, facts, figures and observations in relation to the issue have contributed significantly to the attitude change by many of the people all over the world (Greenwood, 1955). The difference between a man and a woman Historians, psychologists, prisons reformists and all concerned parties have witnessed the journey that women convicts have taken. They have recorded that the notable differences between men and women contributed significantly to the attitudes that women experienced. The crimes that they committed and the environment that they were forced to live under contributed to the negative attitudes they experienced. The debate that encouraged the open discussion that man and woman were similar yet different reduced the negative attitude. It has been explained in many circles that man and woman are very different. This is in aspects of genitalia, emotions, reactions and many other features (Cheung, 1997). They are also similar in some of their needs, expectations and wants. The aspect of making mistakes is one feature that historians have used to analyze and help people understand women convicts. It is true to note that people have the capacity to make mistakes at each and every point in their lives. Once they have taken into consideration this point, they will have no business or capacity to deem women convicts negatively. They will view them as any other person who has made certain mistakes in life and they have to receive some correction and guidance for it. Once they have received the guidance and correction, they are now ready to join the society. They need to be embraced and guided so as to ensure that they do not go down the same path that they had taken before. The debate has helped soften the stance of so many people who would not try to understand women convicts. This was mostly because of their gender (Frost, 2011). Capable of embracing reforms The journey that women convicts have taken is well recorded. Since their transportation and inclusion in the most degrading areas in society, women have improved themselves. The paths taken by the first women convict in Australia showed that they had the capacity to reform. They took time to learn what was expected of them in the female factories. As much as they participated in deeds that would reflect negatively on them, they acquired the basic commodities and never looked back. It is this analogy that has made it possible for people to change their perception of them and their habits. This is before and after they have finished their jail terms. Many women have used the skills and expertise that they acquired while in jail to improve themselves. Some have participated in crafts, educational training programmes and many other programmes offered in prison. Once they are out they have the capacity to sustain themselves and their families (Barker, 2000). Woman’s role in society There are many cases where a woman is incarcerated and she has a child. The child will have to grow up in prison. All the things that this child witnesses and grows up knowing are as a result of the surroundings that he or she was socialized. It is crucial for society and all the people involved to alter their perception of women convicts with this knowledge in mind. Many instances have dictated that opinions have been changed because of this element. Women convicts are trained and guided to ensure that they have the capacity to stand up and raise children irrespective of their circumstances. This means that despite everything that they are going through; women have to ensure that their children in prison contribute positively to the society. This responsibility entails them to be in the right state of mind and the society has a duty to support and encourage them. Once it does so, it is creating an avenue for the growth and fixed positive change in society (Greenwood, 1955). Weak nature of women Whether incarcerated or free, a woman is still a woman. Women are weak in very many areas. This does not change just because they are in prison for one crime or the other. Debates have ensured that policies are created, evaluated and chosen based on the nature of women convicts. This is one of the reasons as to why there are very many activities that go on in men prisons that are altered to suit the women. This is one of the reasons as to why there is great emphasis on the growth of positive change towards women convicts (Barker, 2000). Conclusion In conclusion, the journey to understand women convicts did not start today. For decades many studies have been taken to understand the journey and path that has been taken in respect to women convicts. This has been with the aim of understanding what they have gone through and what will shape their experiences after they have left prison. The attitudinal disparities are very clear especially when dealing with male convicts at each and every point. The bottom line is that the women convicts are women just like the rest of the other women in society. The only difference is that they happen to have committed certain injustices or gone against certain laws. This is one of the reasons as to why they are convicted. It is important to ensure that as they go through their jail terms they do so with as much dignity as possible. References Alexander, A. (2005). The Companion to Tasmanian History. Hobart, Tasmania: Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies: University of Tasmania. Barker, A. 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