Corrections_Today_Spring_2026_Vol.88_No.1

WOMEN WORKING IN CORRECTIONS

“No one can know” becomes an unrealistic and destruc tive mantra. It builds a version of us that others see while hiding the person they truly don’t know. People label and whisper about the visible version: “He’s a hard worker. She’s a loner. Why is he always here? When does she go home?” However, hidden beneath those labels and whispers are impactful symptoms: sleeplessness, high blood pressure, migraines, stress-related illness. Doctors treat the symp toms without understanding the underlying pain. Some turn to medication, alcohol, or drugs just to keep going. What makes us hide who we are? So why do we do this to ourselves? Misty Bulk’s 2024 article “Why Men Have a Hard Time Opening Up and Being Vulnerable” highlights factors that apply to both men and women. Cultural conditioning teaches men to “man up” and suppress emotions, while women often battle stereotypes that paint them as too emotional or not suited for “a man’s job.” Both face shame and judg ment for showing vulnerability. Past ridicule reinforces the walls we build. Vulnerability is not weakness. As Buck (2024) wrote, “Vulnerability is absolutely essential to wholehearted living.” Most of the pressure to appear untouched by life comes from within us — not from others. We fear being seen as human, forgetting that we are not machines. When emotions stay trapped, “anger turns into violence; shame turns into self-hate; fear turns into silence and loneliness turns into desperation” (Joyner, 2025, p. 52). Inner and outer well-being This brings us to the importance of caring for our internal and external selves. The world’s noise isn’t going anywhere, but we get to choose how it affects us. It’s time — past time — to take care of ourselves. Our presentation has to be authentic. We still get to be intentional about who we allow into our inner circle; not everyone deserves that access, but someone does. Maintaining a superhuman façade keeps us in bond age. As Joyner writes, “The first step to total physical, spiritual, and emotional freedom is acceptance — ac ceptance that what has happened has happened, and no amount of guilt or regret will reverse it” (2025, p. 9). When we heal internally, freedom spreads into every

part of life. Emotional baggage weighs us down physi cally, spiritually and mentally. Regardless of our position — line staff, middle manage ment, or executive leadership — we all bring value. We bring even more when we show up as our whole, healthy selves. Knowing our strengths and acknowledging our vulnerabilities helps us get out of our own way. A crucial step is embracing our purpose. “Purpose is not something we find by doing more … it is how your divine energy expresses itself in the world” (Joyner, 2025, p. 71). Today, I seek connections that help me become a bet ter friend, partner, coworker — simply a better human. The messaging must change, and I choose to be the catalyst. “Vulnerability is not weakness. To be vulnerable is to have courage … Only through accepting it as part of life can we experience change and wholehearted living” (Acosta, 2013). CT REFERENCES Acosta, G. (2013, May 3). Dream Positive [Review of Dream Positive]. Positive Psychology Blog. https://www.dreampositive.info/the-role-of vulnerability-and-shame Buck, Misty. “Why Men Have a Hard Time Opening up and Being Vulnerable .” Athlete Mental Health, 31 July 2024, purposesoulathlet ics.com/why-men-have-a-hard-time-opening-up-and-being- vulnerable. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025. India, V., & Rao, T. S. S. (2010, October). Work, family or personal life: Why not all three? [Review of Work, family or personal life: Why not all three?]. National Library of Medicine; Indian Psychiatric Society. Joyner, Ruby. 8 Steps to Freedom — Breaking Free from the inside Out. Nashville Tennessee, True Vine Publishing, 10 June 2025, p. 9, ruby@ rubyjoyner.com. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025. Peterson, Tanya, MS, NCC, DAIS. “Superwoman Syndrome and Superman Complex Make Anxiety Soar .” Healthy Place, 14 Sept. 2017, www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schman xiety/2017/09/anxiety- and-the-superwoman-syndrome-superman-comple. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025. Stapylton-Smith, Emily. “40+ Powerful Female Leadership Quotes Every Woman Should Read.” Business Women, 30 Aug. 2025, businesswomen.com/ blog/powerful-female-leadership-quotes-for- women. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Ruby Joyner has over 20 years in the field of corrections and currently serves as the Chief of Corrections at the Nashville Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.

Corrections Today | Spring 2026

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