Stanley-Eric-Captive-Genders-Trans-Embodiment-and-Prison-Industrial-Complex

Out of CompliancePotatoes also referred to demeanor: “Well, it’s how I carry myself. I don’thave a feminine walk. I prefer not to go out with my eyebrows plucked.”Cookie “always wanted to be a boy.” He was called tomboy and dyke.In junior high school, girls refused to shower with him in PE class. Foryears he felt something was wrong with him because he did not feel likehe was “supposed to.” Growing up there were fights with his grandmotherover wearing dresses. Wearing girl’s clothes at graduation was awkward.Cookie tried to conform to being more feminine, but it was never comfortable.He tried to not be called names and to fit societal and familyexpectations. Today, Cookie uses the terms gender-non-conforming, aggressive,and stud, but gender-non-conforming expresses it best.Richard identifies as a transgender male. “Essentially I was born inthe wrong body. I call it the wrong suit. Since I was very, very young Ihave thought about that I was a boy and why wouldn’t anybody recognizeit?” Things went along OK until high school. “I dropped out because thenyou had to wear dresses and all that, and they’re real strict about dividingboys and girls, and stuff like that. At the time I quit school I could notvocalize what, why, I just didn’t want to go anymore, that is all I could say.”Richard started living as a man at age fifteen up until his incarcerationat thirty-seven. “Nobody knew that I was female except for my partner.”Respondents also mentioned that being aggressive meant having ahard edge, being perceived as non-deferential, and treating women withrespect (for example, not calling a woman a bitch and not hitting a woman).These standards of masculinity are backed up by appearance normssuch as shaved heads, big and baggy clothing, less feminine clothing, nomakeup, more masculine postures, and being assertive speakers. Theirgender presentation is more masculine by societal standards even withinthe tight parameters of prison clothing options—the issue we turn to next.Femininity StandardsAll people wear clothing and accessories that convey gender messages. Ifyou look in any clothing store, there are different styles, colors, fabrics,clothing cuts, buttons, belts, ruffles, and so forth that indicate whetherthese clothes are to be worn by women or men. These style ideas are widespreadin society and taught to children without their even realizing thatthey are absorbing and accepting them as natural. People in a women’sprison who want to express masculinity will want to express a certain look.This can only be done based on prison-issue clothing and what productsare available in the vendor boxes. 14 This and their comfort level wearing195