NCJ Number
66197
Journal
Angolite Dated: (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 51-78
Date Published
1979
Length
28 pages
Annotation
BASED UPON A LITERATURE REVIEW AND INTERVIEWS WITH INMATES AND STAFF AT THE LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY, THE PRISON AND JAIL SUBCULTURE OF HOMOSEXUALITY IS ANALYZED.
Abstract
STATUS IN THE INMATE SUBCULTURE IS LARGELY ESTABLISHED BY THE HOMOSEXUAL ROLE--AGGRESSOR OR VICTIM. AGGRESSORS, WHO DESIRE TO ESTABLISH AND REINFORCE A MASCULINE IMAGE, WILL VIOLENTLY RAPE NEWCOMERS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THEIR POWER IN CONTRAST TO THE WEAKNESS OF THE VICTIM. THE VICTIM IS CAST IN THE ROLE OF A SUBSERVIENT WOMAN WHO MUST DO THE BIDDING OF HER 'MAN.' VICTIMS (GENERALLY CALLED 'WHORES,' 'BOYGALS,' OR 'BITCHES') ARE FREQUENTLY SOLD BY THEIR OWNERS FOR SEX WITH OTHER INMATES. VICTIMS HAVE THE BENEFIT OF RECEIVING PROTECTION FROM THEIR OWNERS, FURTHER CONFIRMING THEIR WEAKNESS AND LACK OF MALEINESS. IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM BECOMING ENSLAVED, A NEWCOMER MUST SHOW THAT HE CAN RESIST AGGRESSIVE ADVANCES AND MEET VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE. ASSAULT AND KILLING, WITH A CONSEQUENT EXTENSIONS OF PRISON TERMS, ARE OFTEN THE ONLY COURSE FOR AVOIDING SEXUAL DEGRADATION AND ENSLAVEMENT. THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF MANY PRISONS AND JAILS ACCEPT THE DYNAMICS OF THE INMATE HOMOSEXUAL SUBCULTURE AS A MEANS OF ESTABLISHING SOCIAL CONTROL. THE LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY AT ANGOLA HAS REDUCED FORCED AND VIOLENT HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS TO A MINIMUM BY NOT TOLERATING ANY VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THIS APPROACH, COMBINED WITH CONJUGAL VISITS, COULD GO A LONG WAY IN CONTROLLING AND RELIEVING THE NEED FOR AGGRESSIVE STATUS BEHAVIOR THROUGH SEXUALITY. THE PRACTICE OF ISOLATING KNOWN HOMOSEXUALS DOES LITTLE TO RELIEVE THE SITUATION, SINCE MOST AGGRESSORS ARE HETEROSEXUALS WITH A NEED TO ESTABLISH A MANLY IMAGE. (RCB)