Proquest Dissertations
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CAGED (NO)BODIES: EXPLORING THE RACIALIZED AND GENDERED POLITICS OF INCARCERATION OF BLACK WOMEN IN THE CANADIAN PRISON SYSTEM RAIMUNDA D. REECE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN WOMEN'S STUDIES YORK UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, ONTARIO MAY 2010 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your We Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-68577-8 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-68577-8 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Nnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. 14-1 Canada Caged (No)Bodies: Exploring the Racialized and Gendered Politics of Incarceration of Black Women in the Canadian Prison System By Raimunda (Rai) Reece a dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of York University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY © 2010 Permission has been granted to: a) YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES to lend or sell copies of this dissertation in paper, microform or electronic formats, and b) LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA to reproduce, lend, distribute, or sell copies of this dissertation anywhere in the world in microform, paper or electronic formats and to authorize or procure the reproduction, loan, distribution or sale of copies of this dissertation anywhere in the world in micro form, paper or electronic formats. The author reserves other publication rights, and neither the dissertation nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's written permission. IV ABSTRACT In Canada, the adage 'too few to count' has relegated studies on incarcerated Black women to the margins of social science and sociological inquiry. Social justice initiatives investigating the lived experiences of incarcerated Black women in federal institutions have seldom been explored. This dissertation presents an integration and subsequent exploration into how incarceration has detrimentally affected the socio-economic status of Black women in the 21st century. In our current local and global environment, the racial, economic, and political marginalization of women is a contributing factor related to the disproportionate numbers of incarcerated Black women. This study uses ten qualitative interviews with incarcerated Black women in order to explore how social relations such as poverty, violence against women, racism and classism are historically connected to the contemporary over-representation of incarcerated Black women. This dissertation is 'ethnographically driven' (see Saleh- Hanna, 2008). This project was designed in such a way that the analyses from the interviews support many of the theoretical frameworks argued in the research. As such, this work relies heavily on qualitative parameters as a means to support theoretical arguments. This dissertation is grounded in theory; however, it has also been designed to tell stories and/or narrative accounts that serve as micro-maquettes for exploring some of the conceptual arguments being put forth. This research draws on feminist theories of law, critical criminology, critical race and racism, and citizenship, in order to examine the social implications of incarceration and the Black woman body politic. Additionally, a move towards Canadian Black Feminist Criminology explores how theories of race and V racism are explicitly connected to gendered incarceration and the social reproduction of citizenship and belonging; when situated in a Canadian context Black Feminist Criminology is identified as a tool for future critical feminist criminological theorizing and social activist praxis. VI ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing a dissertation can feel daunting and isolating at times, refreshing and satisfying at other times. In the end, or the beginning, you hope that the words on the page translate and reflect the intellectual movement and moments in your head. The culmination of this work could not have been completed if not for the support of many people. However, before I acknowledge those on earth, I step outside of the politically correct boundaries of academia, risking ridicule and knowing side glances: I thank God for strength, patience and peace. I am indebted to my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Tania Das Gupta for her insight, intellect, patience and the manner in which she encouraged me to stay the course. Thank you Tania, for taking me on as a student on short notice, and without reservation; working with you has been truly pleasurable. I greatly appreciate the time and effort Dr. Livy A. Visano has put into working with me over the years. Livy, your continual support in my academic endeavours has never wavered, and is much appreciated. Special thanks to Dr. Andil Gosine for advice, continual editing offers and friendship. I am proud to call such an esteemed academic, my friend. Thank you to Deborah Brock for supervisory duties during the proposal writing of this project; your advice helped shape the course of this work. I would like to thank Kelly Blanchette, PhD (Director, Women Offender Research, Correctional Service of Canada) for helping me gain access to Grand Valley Institution for Women. Special thanks to all Vll of the women whom I interviewed for this project. Your words have given depth to this work in a most profound way and I am grateful for all that you shared with me. Thank you to Giselle Dias, Trevor Gray and Maki Motapanyane for constant support and feedback during the writing process. To my family, and friends who are like family, your unconditional love and support during all the stages of my doctoral work has been invaluable and not gone unnoticed. Thank you to May Moore for unwavering support and consistent interest in my work. Thank you to Charmaine Hunter for encouragement, laughter and support. Mom and Dad, you have continually supported my academic endeavours over the years and I am grateful to you for late nights, encouraging words, check-ins and all that you do for me without hesitation. To Francis Ogbogu, my partner, my love, I thank you for continual support and your smile. To my beloved daughter Shade Ego, my life changed for the better the moment we met; this work is for you. May you learn and grow and cultivate your own feminist activism, always from your heart. Vlll DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the countless women struggling for a better tomorrow and For Shade IX CAGED BODIES "Prison is frustration and anger so intense that cutting into the arteries of my own arm only alleviates some of the pain." (Prisoner at Prison for Women) "One of the best programs here is the sexual abuse therapist, but there is a long waiting list. I don't know if my pain can wait." (Prisoner at Prison for Women) "If my little brother had died in a big city in Ontario rather than on a reserve in Saskatchewan I know I would have been allowed to go to his funeral." (Aboriginal Prisoner at Prison for Women) "Prison is being naked emotionally for the first time in your memory, with nowhere to hide... I build walls around my feelings and barricade my heart as best I can. I count my months, my days, until canteen, until lock-up, until release. I feel anxiety and deep depression sometimes when I look at the calendar. The world is farther away with every season. My survival here is all I have." (Prisoner at Prison for Women) X TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract iv Acknowledgments vi Dedication viii Caged Bodies ix Table of Contents x CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION: TWO HERSTORIES 1 Research Questions 6 More than a Numbers Game? 7 Organization of Dissertation 10 CHAPTER 2: UN/MAPPING CANADA'S COLONIAL HERSTORY: NATION- BUILDING AND THE MAKING OF CIVILIZATION 17 Making the Nation: Race, Gender, Law and the Location of Carceral Bodies 17 Getting In on a Temporary 'Pass' 38 Historical Informs Contemporary: Marie-Joseph Angelique's