Women are not treated fairly in prison - Essay Example

Women are not treated fairly in prison Through the study many things but prison come out. One of the many aspects that she delved in in the course of her writings was how the women were treated in the prison. Analysis of her writing shows that there is evidence that women were treated equally in prison. This phenomenon of mistreating women was unique to the times of Davis as it existed before her time in jail as well as after she had left jail. To date, there are still complaints about the treatment of women in prison. There is enough evidence that points to the mistreatment of women in prison but the treatment of women takes a further racial dimension meaning that white women were not treated as black women. Discrimination on the basis of gender has been a challenge to many societies in the world. Women have been discriminated because of the societal perception that has subsequently only awarded woman a peripheral role in society. Davis begins chapter four of her work by highlighting the plight of Marcia Bunny. The very first statement read form the story of Bunny is that she has fought the system unjust treatment of her and that she has been told that she may never leave prison because of her fight against the oppression of the prison treatment (Davis 60). The discrimination for women gets a little worse if the woman in question is minority. Through the work of Davis, she says that almost all the woman that were in prison during her time were either black or Porte Ricans (Davis 19). The very reason for her imprisonment was her political views even though the authorities claimed that she had committed he offence of conspiracy and murder. The high number of racial imbalance within the prisons may demonstrate unfairness in other processes that come before imprisonment as was in the case of Davis. Davis makes a resounding call to the reader by stating several times that there was bias within the prison and that the population dynamics in the prison did not reflect any reality with regard to the criminality of the people in. Further she states that the bias in the system was such that it did not favor people who were poor and that explain why black people and other minorities were found in jails. Davis further points that not all women were treated the same once they found themselves in the prison walls. It is pointed that while women were not restrained while Chicana and black women were put in handcuffs (Davis 298). A clear picture of what happens to the woman can be summarized through the story of Shakur. From the onset, she was imprisonment on an allegation that she had killed state trooper, something that was false. Based on the wrong allegation, she was subjected to inhumane treatment such as being stripped naked so that searchers were carried out. This kinds of treatments were not done to all other girls especially Chicano and black. The discrimination pointed out by Davis was not unique. It is a subject that has been delved on for long time. The treatment of women does not only apply to the prisoners as it also applies to those who work in prison. Davis noticed that most of the black women given the role of prison guards and it are not a role that they enjoyed doing. As a matter of fact they state that they are doing the job because they have no alternative and just have to survive hence the choice of job (Davis 44). The fate of the black prison employee demonstrates the unequal treatment of women both inmates and employees. The United States of America is on the forefront for advocating for the welfare of the people and as such abhors any sought of discrimination. In particular, the fourth Amendment of the constitution advocates for equal treatment of all prisoners despite race. Despite this reality that has been in the constitution and the American society for a long time. In the case of Washington V lee, the court held that it was wrong for prisons to deny prisoners the right to subscribe to magazine even though the magazine was aimed at black audience (Arntzen 76). That case was a demonstration of the intensity of racial discrimination that persists in both male and female prisons. The issue of color has been subject of discussion in the American justice and correctional facilities. The issue is critical given that 70% of the people incarcerated are people of color. The argument does not however, mean that they are unfairly but just points out on the need to look at the matter critically so that even as people remain in jail treatment should be same for men and women of all races (Sudbury 347). Davis brings a new dimension into the argument by pointing out that mistreatment of women has been discussed for a long time. For example, Davis points out that between 1820 and 1870 a lot platforms were taking place in male prison yet in the midst of those changes there were no substantive changes within female prions (Davis 69). This demonstrates the turmoil and suffering, that woman underwent during that period. This would imply that prison to be in deplorable states. It further implies that with the racial discrimination that meant unequal treatment in female prisons, black women and other minorities passed through difficult times. Today, more than ever, women population increase in prisons and as this numbers increase so does the levels of potential discrimination levels. In this respect, relevant authorities have a duty to address the problem so the equal treatment is achieved in these faculties. It is safe to conclude that Davis helped in highlighting the life in prison. In particular her work gave insights of the unfair treatment that was evident in the prions. Her story showed how discrimination was perpetrated in prison based on the color of the skin. It is a script that continues to affect the society even in the contemporary times. Work cited Arntzen, Sonja. 'Book Review:A Woman's Weapon: Spirit Possession In The Tale Of Genji Doris G. Bargen'. History of Religions 41.1 (2001): 76. Web. Brewer, R. M., and N. A. Heitzeg. 'The Racialization Of Crime And Punishment: Criminal Justice, Color-Blind Racism, And The Political Economy Of The Prison Industrial Complex'. American Behavioral Scientist 51.5 (2008): 625-644. Web. Davis, Angela Y. Angela Davis--An Autobiography. New York: Random House, 1974. Print. Davis, Angela Y. Women, Race & Class. New York: Vintage Books, 1983. Print. Herzing, Rachel, and Isaac Ontiveros. 'Building An International Movement To Abolish The Prison Industrial Complex'. Criminal Justice Matters 84.1 (2011): 42-44. Web. Krisberg, Barry. 'Downsizing The Prison-Industrial Complex'. California Journal of Politics and Policy2.1 (2010): n. pag. Web. Pitofsky, Alexander H. 'Profit And Stealth In The Prison-Industrial Complex'. Postmodern Culture 12.2 (2002): n. pag. Web. Sudbury, Julia. 'Celling Black Bodies: Black Women In The Global Prison Industrial Complex'. Fem Rev 80.1 (2005): 162-179. Web. Sudbury, Julia. 'Rethinking Global Justice: Black Women Resist The Transnational Prison-Industrial Complex'. Souls 10.4 (2008): 344-360. Web. Read More