An Analysis of the Patriarchal Authoritarianism in the Guard/Prisoner Relationships in orange is the new Black by Piper Kerman
This prison study will define the theme of patriarchal authoritarianism in the male guard and female prisoner relationship found in Piper Kerman’s book Orange is the New Black. Kerman (2011) presents a female perspective within a primarily patriarchal authoritarian system of female corrections in her first-person experiences at Danbury Federal Correction institution. Kerman (2011) utilizes a female point of view to define the authoritative role of male guards, which often leads to sexual abuse, physical violence, and the use of hostile language to coerce women prisoners. These findings suggest a broader pattern in …show more content…
The theme of sexual and physical abuse of female prisoners by male guards only reinforces the experiences that “highlight the extremity of sexual (and other) assaults of guards of women prisoners related to rape and brute force” (Belknap 258). This type of patriarchal culture is not only evident within the prison, but within the patriarchal context of research done on prisoner experiences through a male perspective. Kerman’s (2011) first hand experience defines the female-focused perspective of prison life, which she examines outside of this patriarchal …show more content…
federal prison system, the policy of allowing male-guards to watch over the female inmates has created a patriarchal system of authority. This type of prison policy tends to illustrate the predominant power of male authority figures over disempowered and uneducated women that end up in prison. The important evidence for Kerman’s (2011) argument about the patriarchal culture of the male guards at the prison illustrates the facts related to sexual abuse of women in these facilities:
There are numerous reports of female prisoners being sexually abused or exploited by male correctional workers who either use brute force or psychological coercion to gain sexual control over inmates (Siegel 525).
This research analysis defines the underscoring problems that come with male guards being given power over women in this patriarchal system of corrections. Not only is the abuse physical or sexual, but the coercive means of psychological coercion is another way in which male guards intimidate and threaten women into submission. “The only men they come into contact with are prison guards, and if the CO is a half-decent human being, he will find himself the object of crushes. If he is a cocky bastard, even more so” (Kerman 129). For Kerman (2011), the psychological effect of being without a male partner defines the temptation of various female prisoners to become subjected to male guards as a sexual objects. Of course, the male guards can use this type of sexual tension to abuse
This prison study will define the theme of patriarchal authoritarianism in the male guard and female prisoner relationship found in Piper Kerman’s book Orange is the New Black. Kerman (2011) presents a female perspective within a primarily patriarchal authoritarian system of female corrections in her first-person experiences at Danbury Federal Correction institution. Kerman (2011) utilizes a female point of view to define the authoritative role of male guards, which often leads to sexual abuse, physical violence, and the use of hostile language to coerce women prisoners. These findings suggest a broader pattern in …show more content…
The theme of sexual and physical abuse of female prisoners by male guards only reinforces the experiences that “highlight the extremity of sexual (and other) assaults of guards of women prisoners related to rape and brute force” (Belknap 258). This type of patriarchal culture is not only evident within the prison, but within the patriarchal context of research done on prisoner experiences through a male perspective. Kerman’s (2011) first hand experience defines the female-focused perspective of prison life, which she examines outside of this patriarchal …show more content…
federal prison system, the policy of allowing male-guards to watch over the female inmates has created a patriarchal system of authority. This type of prison policy tends to illustrate the predominant power of male authority figures over disempowered and uneducated women that end up in prison. The important evidence for Kerman’s (2011) argument about the patriarchal culture of the male guards at the prison illustrates the facts related to sexual abuse of women in these facilities:
There are numerous reports of female prisoners being sexually abused or exploited by male correctional workers who either use brute force or psychological coercion to gain sexual control over inmates (Siegel 525).
This research analysis defines the underscoring problems that come with male guards being given power over women in this patriarchal system of corrections. Not only is the abuse physical or sexual, but the coercive means of psychological coercion is another way in which male guards intimidate and threaten women into submission. “The only men they come into contact with are prison guards, and if the CO is a half-decent human being, he will find himself the object of crushes. If he is a cocky bastard, even more so” (Kerman 129). For Kerman (2011), the psychological effect of being without a male partner defines the temptation of various female prisoners to become subjected to male guards as a sexual objects. Of course, the male guards can use this type of sexual tension to abuse