In the aftennath of the policy crisis which followed the chaining of pregnant prisoners in labour and childbirth, this study constitutes the first to provide qualitative data (supported by basic quantitative analysis) derived from in-depth interviews with pregnant prisoners about their experiences, conducted in England and Wales. From this data, the thesis describes: ( a) the characteristics of pregnant prisoners, (b) the effect of pregnancy on the experience of imprisonment, and (c) the effect of imprisonment on the experience of pregnancy. In addition to this, the thesis presents an account of Prison Service policy and practice relating to pregnancy in prison using data obtained from questionnaires completed by prison staff. Infonned by the medicalisation critique and perspectives from Foucault, it is argued that due to the construction of pregnancy and childbirth as medical events, pregnant women's bodies are subject to medical control and intervention. The reproduction and enforcement of this medical model in Prison Service policy and practice duplicates the control endured by pregnant prisoners producing docile bodies, subject to controlled knowledge and restricted autonomy. The overall effect of this is the deconstruction of women's competency to deal with pregnancy and childbirth. The thesis argues that the motivation behind this control is the creation of productivity, namely, healthy bodies and the control of sexuality, and the perpetuation of docility, through the social control of women's multiple-deviance. The thesis attributes the success of this control to the selfpolicing operated by pregnant women, which is evident from their expectations and demands for pregnancy, even in prison. Finally, the thesis argues that the conditions experienced by pregnant prisoners are punishing, in view of the dual control endured and the physical effects of imprisonment on pregnancy. IV
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:323510 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Canvin, Krysia Lianne |
| Publisher | University of the West of England, Bristol |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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