Corrections_Today_July-August_2022_Vol.84_No.4

By Daniela Barberi, Megan Stoltz, Shannon Magnuson and Danielle S. Rudes, Ph.D.

R elationships provide social integration, despair and misery (Kraus et al., 1993; Veroff, 1995; Weiss, 1974). While most understand the value of relationships generally, current research provides little to no certainties regarding if/how relationships differ in form or function for men and women. reassurance of worth, attachment and guidance that help individuals avoid feelings of loneliness,

staff cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to man aging these carceral relationships. This carceral myth grows legs when you consider prisons as insular com munities with their own social customs and norms, and where those who live inside self-govern by an informal set of rules commonly labeled as the “inmate code.” These rules guide the behavior of residents with officers, staff and other residents and establish which

Some research regarding how gendered relationships broadly work suggests: (1) women have fewer friends but stronger relationships while men have more friends but with shallow connections; (2) women are more likely to seek out and benefit from their friends than are men; (3) women’s relationships are more heavily based on emotion and self disclosure than are men’s; (4) women have higher expectations of friendship than men do; (5) men’s relationships are based on shared interests or activities more so

actions are acceptable and which behav iors warrant consequences (Ahlin et al., 2017; Copes et al., 2013) Past research in men’s and women’s prisons indicate the “inmate

“I feel like it’s [a] good idea to have some friends with power and I say the word ‘friends’ not meaning good friends, just

code” guides basic elements of relationships such as respect, trust, communication and how individuals react to one another when someone breaks

meaning people that I have a relationship with and you might be able to get something done.” — Male Resident

the code. However, beyond research about the existence of the inmate code, existing prison research does not neces sarily confirm code differences among men and women residents

than women’s friendships are, and; some research even shows (6) there are few to no differences in friendships amongst men and women (Ashton, 1980; Hays, 1984, 1985; Stokes & Wilson, 1984; Wright, 1982). Despite these mixed messages regarding how relationships differ for men and women, even less is known about how relationships differ, if at all, for men and women residents in carceral settings. 1 In our research across several men’s and women’s prisons, there is an anecdotal sense among prison staff that men and women’s relationships are different, and

and how these differences matter when someone breaks the code . There is some evidence there are slight, but important, ways in which relationships differ in these gendered groups and how each group navigates and manages these relation ships (Aranda-Hughes et al., 2021; Giallombardo, 1966; Trammell, 2009; Williams & Green, 2017). This paper discusses four myths we heard from prison staff about men and women’s relationships in prison. Using interview data with men and women residents living across six prisons, we unpack these myths. We

Graphic opposite page: istock/Atlas Studio; Diversity illustration: istock/Dusan Stankovic

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