Female Guards in Men's Prisons - Creating a Role for Themselves

• NCJ Number: 89380
• Author(s): L E Zimmer
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 348 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: American Assoc Of University Women
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This study presents a history of the movement of female guards into men's prisons, focusing on the social and legal forces that prompted it, the manner in which it has been implemented in the New York and Rhode Island prison systems, and the subjective experiences of its key participants.

Abstract

The organizational environment in which the introduction of female guards has occurred is portrayed, with special attention to institutional changes that have affected prisons in the last few decades and the impact of these changes on the guard occupation. The prison guard occupational subculture and the recent unionization of guards are also examined. The factors that have contributed to the sexual integration of the guard forces around the country are then analyzed, with legal mandates noted to be the most critical factor. Reasons why women choose to become guards are identified, followed by an examination of the introduction of female guards in the New York and Rhode Island prison systems. The responses of prison administrators, inmates, male guards, and guard unions are considered. Subsequent discussions examine the experiences of women on the job and the nature of their relationships with inmates and male coworkers. Ways in which women adjust to the job are identified, including the factors that influence a woman guard's choice of adjustment strategy. The discussion then shifts to an assessment of the long-term effect of the integration of prison guard forces, exploring overall changes in prison security and efficiency, effects of women's presence on inmates and male guards, and the consequences of women's presence for prison administration. The final chapters analyze the future of women in corrections, given the continuing legal problems associated with their employment, and explore the relationship of these findings to other research on women in nontraditional occupations. Some suggestions are offered for a theory of women's occupational experiences. The appendixes discuss the research strategy and provide abstracts of selected Federal and State cases related to female prison guards. About 300 references are included.