The Problems WOmen Face in Prison

Women in prison face the repercussions for their unlawful actions, but that should not include repercussions at the cost of their menstrual and physical health. Women’s prisons tend to have the reputation of having “better” conditions than men’s prisons, but this concept continues to get proven wrong each year when their human rights get taken away. In 2018, the US Congress passed the First Step Act, which was a general justice reform effort that required prisons to provide women with free pads and tampons that meet required industry standards. Despite this step in the right direction, many women in state and local prisons still do not have this right. Feminine products are a part of women’s necessities in everyday life and should not be seen in any other way. Menstrual health is a human rights issue, and women’s rights should not be stolen when getting a period is out of women’s control.

Unfortunately, poor menstrual product supply is just a fraction of women’s problems in prison. According to Human Rights Watch, male correctional employees have sexually assaulted, abused and raped female prisoners. The Bureau of Prisons opened 5,415 cases regarding alleged sexual abuse by federal employees from 2012 to 2022. According to NPR, a bipartisan Senate investigation found that male prison employees have assaulted women in at least two-thirds of the nation’s federal prisons. Women have also been coerced into sexual favors in exchange for menstrual products and even to avoid punishment. Although there is a Prison Rape Elimination Act, this does not stop guards and other prisoners from taking advantage of these women, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The overall rate of sexual assault allegations reported increased by 14%, from 24,514 in 2015 to 27,826 in 2018. The rate of reported rapes by jail administrations also rose by 48% during that period. Many may think speaking up can make all the difference, but sadly speaking up can cause even worse situations for incarcerated women.

Dehumanization is the perfect word to describe thewse women’s environment in prison. The shame surrounding menstrual cycles remains a prominent issue with all women and is even more prevalent in the women’s prison system. The lack of menstrual products in prisons increases the susceptibility of female prisoners to develop or contract a life-threatening illness. Women are recommended to change their pads every four hours to lower the risk of infection. Since the prison system supplies only about 10 or fewer pads a month when a period lasts up to seven days, changing pads often would not be possible. Due to this lack of care, many prisoners have needed to receive an emergency hysterectomy due to toxic shock syndrome from the use of makeshift tampons. Toxic shock syndrome can lead to death and if prison systems do not begin to change their way these ongoing issues will only continuously heighten.

Periods need to be recognized and normalized if we want to see any changes in the prison system. Menstrual products need to be seen as a necessity for women rather than a luxury item they may receive when they behave. With our generation growing and our views changing, society needs to realize the importance of pads and tampons for women in the prison system. There is a huge imbalance of power when prisoners are forced to ask correctional officers for items that are necessary, and when denied are forced to remain humiliated. Women in prison should not have to live in blood-stained clothes because of the lack of products they receive. With our generation growing and our views changing, society needs to realize the importance of pads and tampons for women in the prison system. With the increase of women in prison each day, legislators need to step up and quickly address this issue. Women’s menstrual products are a number one priority in the outside world and should fall under the same importance in the women’s prison system.

Ava Garcia Managing Editor a.garcia.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY LUNA GARCIA

PHOTO BY EMILIA HAUS