Trauma, Power, and Intimate Relationships Among Women in Prison. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCauley, Heather L.; Richie, Fallon; Hughes, Sara; Johnson, Jennifer E.; Zlotnick, Caron; Rosen, Rochelle K.; Wechsberg, Wendee M.; Kuo, Caroline C.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 26:Number 6/7(2020)
• Page Start: 659
• Page End: 674
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: intimate partner violence -- sexual violence -- prisoners -- sexual health -- sexuality; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801219842948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

The present study, which included four focus groups of women ( n = 21) in four New England prisons, aimed to understand how power impacted women's relationships, exposure to violence, and health. Women described power in three ways: (a) power as control over their sexuality and their sexual partners, (b) power emerging from emotional strength, and (c) power referring to a process of empowerment. Women's perceptions and experiences of power were informed by their trauma histories and influenced their sexual behavior and health. Our findings provide a framework for considering incarcerated women's experiences of power in trauma-informed interventions for this marginalized population.