Gender Roles

2 Pages 585 Words

In the article “Incarcerated Mothers” a lot of valid points and strong arguments are made. We learn in the beginning of the article that majority of the women in prison are mothers, and their needs are often neglected. Women’s healthcare needs and services are often ignored compared to male inmates. Majority of women mothers take care of themselves and abide by the rules simply to get out of prison as soon as possible so that they can see their children. Would it be a different case if we were discussing fatherhood? Yes, I think it would.
For instance, incarcerated males receive many of the necessary services, such as, medical, dental, recreational, vocational, and educational services. However, does the male population of inmates deserve to have these benefits? I think that the men take advantage of these benefits. I do not think the main thing on their mind is getting out of prison to see their children. Many of them may not even know they have kids, they may be in jail for sexual abuse and therefore not care about their offspring. For instance, on page 262 the given quote is saying that men get in trouble for more harsh things, they try to escape, they don’t wear the proper clothes that they are supposed to, they get in fights with one another, and are rowdy compared to the women who abide by the rules and are quite so that they can go home and see their families. Clearly, if men are acting in such a manner then they are not concerned about acting properly in prison so that they can get out and get back to their families. Fathers in prison don’t necessarily have to prove themselves worthy of fatherhood, they don’t have to prove competency. Where as mothers have to prove this without expecting support for their mothering role. It is terrible to see that men don’t have to work as hard to get out to see their children. Both genders should have to equally prove themselves worthy of being a parent rather than t...