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

Out of ComplianceSimilarly, when a male officer disrespected Insane’s girlfriend, the officersaid to him, “Oh, what you gonna do? What you gonna do? You’re no man.”Transgender ConcernsMasculine female-assigned prisoners do not face the same issues as femininemale-assigned prisoners. In general, there aren’t the same fears ofsexual or physical assault from other inmates, and the need for protectionisn’t there. Whether considering homosexuality or gender identity,masculine-identified women have greater concerns regarding officers thanother prisoners. Housing segregation would be needed only in highly individualizedcircumstances in women’s prisons. When I asked people inmy study if they felt gay or transgender prisoners should be segregated,they almost all said absolutely not.This is not an idle consideration. Legislation is being considered inCalifornia to segregate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) prisonerswho self-identify at receiving. I would caution the wholesale supportof this measure since considerations in men’s facilities are different than inwomen’s facilities. Currently in California, prisoners are classified by theirgenitalia, not their gender identity. This policy means transsexual prisonerswho have not had sex reassignment surgery are housed in facilities thatmay not be the best placement for them. With the lack of understandingof transgender issues and the conflation of gender identity with sexualorientation, prisons have become sites of compounded punishment beyondpunishment for the crimes committed. Many prison advocates feeltransgender prisoners should be housed based on subjective gender identityand in the place they feel safest. 20 This would be a step in the rightdirection, but we should be under no illusion that the prison industrialcomplex can exist without gender violence.Another reason aggressives oppose segregation is the complete accessstaff would have to them to harass and abuse them. Prisoners would havefewer protections, not enhanced safety. In fact, for more than a year, inmatesin a Virginia women’s prison were sent to a “butch wing” based ontheir “loose-fitting clothing, short hair, or otherwise masculine looks.” 21Straight and gay prisoners were sent to this unit “in a deliberate strategyby a building manager” to break up relationships and punish perceivedgay appearance. The inmates were harassed verbally and subjected to commentslike “Here come the little boys.” The unit was referred to as the “littleboys wing,” “locker room wing,” or “studs wing.” 22 This policy was justreversed in June 2009. Civil rights groups claimed it was unconstitutional203