Masters Thesis

Formerly incarcerated women of color, pathways to incarceration and roads to healing

My research on the lived experiences of formerly incarcerated women of color (FIWOC) adults- is exploratory. The focus of this research was to create the space and time to reveal how formerly incarcerated women of color (FIWOC)- explain their pathways to incarceration and how they identify and sustain a sense of hope and healing. At the time of my research- there was no literature available specifically on how FIWOC view and define hope and healing. This study highlights the beauty and resilience of the women studied. Three pertinent questions led my research- How do FIWOC describe their pathway to incarceration? How do FIWOC explain significant challenges in their lives, that they have overcome- and how has it shaped who they are? What strategies (e.g. recreational/ mental health), do FIWOC use to create and sustain a sense of hope and healing? The expectation of this study; is to understand the multi-faceted and complex lived realities of formerly incarcerated women of color and how white supremacy and patriarchy, criminalize them and then force them onto specific pathways. This study also highlights how the women themselves disrupt their course through specific strategies and support systems. The findings show the importance of community involvement and coalition building. The personal narratives emphasized in this study- show the wide range of experiences and identities this population has. They highlight, how the sexual abuse to prison pipeline is a reality and imperative for future research. Through the voices of the participants, suggestions and strategies for sustaining, hope and healing are shared in hope that other formerly incarcerated women of color find something meaningful in the participants stories, that guide them towards their own healing.

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