SOC-222 Race, Gender, and Imprisonment
The majority of discussions and literature surrounding mass incarceration center that of heterosexual men in prisons. The goal of this course is to complicate who is behind bars, how they got there, and their experiences thereof. To this end, we will look at those who have been rendered invisible by the dominant discourse on imprisonment – poor women and women of color, queer and gender non-conforming persons, those living with disabilities, and their intersections. We will use the lenses of relationality, structural inequalities, and human rights to show how various groups are at heightened risk for incarceration, policing, and stigma. We will critically engage theory surrounding the modern prison, gendered origins of the modern prison, and how marginalized persons have been targeted by the mass incarceration machine, yet rendered invisible in discussions on imprisonment. Students will read from scholars, activists, and formerly incarcerated persons alike to gain multiple perspectives on our imprisonment crisis. Ultimately, students will leave this course with a profound understanding of jails, prisons, and other forms of confinement. We will end the course addressing the potential for and feasibility of alternative solutions to incarceration.
Standard Course (40)
Credits
1
Prerequisite
One 100-level SOC course