The Increase in Incarcerations Among Women and its Impact on the Grandmother Caregiver: Some Racial Considerations
The Increase in Incarcerations Among Women and its Impact on the Grandmother Caregiver: Some Racial Considerations
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女性入狱人数的增加及其对祖母照顾者的影响：一些种族因素
DOI：
10.15453/0191-5096.2833
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发表时间：
2002
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
D. Ruiz
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
D. Ruiz
这篇文章分析了关于女性监禁增加的人口普查数据，特别强调了一些种族差异。女性监禁人数的稳步上升及其对照顾子女的祖母的影响是这项分析的重点。文章包括社会人口和健康特征的监禁的母亲，相关研究的回顾，监禁对家庭照顾者的影响，并对研究的影响。自1985年以来，女性监禁率每年增加11%。更多的是有色人种女性。在母亲被监禁的儿童中，约有53%由祖母照顾。女性监禁率的迅速上升表明，需要进一步研究这一现象对家庭照顾者，特别是祖母的社会、经济和健康影响。* 在过去30年里，妇女被监禁的人数急剧增加。1970年，只有5,635名妇女被关押在联邦和州监狱。然而，到1985年，这一数字增加到21，296人，到1996年下半年高达74，730人。目前，美国监狱中有9万多名妇女（全国妇女法律中心，1999年）。这意味着女性监禁人数增加了256%，自1985年以来每年增长11.2%。地方监狱中的妇女人数与此类似（McQuaide和Escherreich，1998年）。这些数字包括不成比例的有色人种妇女。妇女已成为国家热衷于监禁的隐性受害者（全国妇女法律中心，1999年）。由于女性囚犯人口的发病率和流行率迅速上升，重要的是要认识到这一弱势群体作为一个重要的政策，研究和方案干预。然而，尽管有这些急剧增加，但人们对被监禁母亲的特点和需要总体上知之甚少，对其幼儿的照料和福利也知之甚少。一些问题与非裔美国妇女监禁率迅速上升有关。母亲的健康问题以及对子女的照顾是给祖母带来严重负担的问题之一，祖母是53%的18岁以下儿童的主要照顾者。尽管非裔美国人母亲被监禁的人数迅速增加，相关问题也随之增加，而且公众和学术界对这一领域的兴趣也在增加，但很少有系统的研究表明，监禁有未成年子女的女儿对家庭，特别是对必须照顾其绝大多数年幼子女的祖母照顾者有何影响。在努力突出一些问题和问题，这篇文章将提供信息（1）社会人口和健康特征的监禁母亲，（2）最近的研究回顾监护祖父母，（3）监禁和家庭抚养，（4）研究的影响。有迫切需要社会科学家积极研究的范围，性质和规模的问题所涉及的监禁的年轻非洲裔美国人的母亲，它的影响祖母照顾者。为了确保家庭的稳固和健康，我们需要了解这些问题和其他社会和公共卫生问题如何影响我们最脆弱人口的日常生活和福祉。截至1998年底，在州和联邦监狱中被监禁的84 500名妇女中，大多数是因经济犯罪而被监禁的。在过去十年中，这一数字迅速上升，部分原因是妇女的经济状况恶化，以及打击犯罪和毒品的斗争导致逮捕率上升。…
This article analyzes census data on the increase in incarcerations among women, with specific emphasis on some racial differences. The steady rise in female incarcerations and its impact on grandmothers who are caregivers of their children is the focus of this analysis. The article includes sociodemographic and health characteristics of imprisoned mothers, a review of relevant research, the impact of incarcerations on family caregivers, and implications for research. The rate of female incarceration has increased by 11% per year since 1985. A disproportionally higher number are women of color. Approximately fifty-three percent of the children whose mothers are imprisoned are cared for by grandmothers. The rapid increase in the female incarceration rate suggests the need for additional research on the social, economic, and health impact of this phenomenon on family caregivers, especially grandmothers. ********** There has been a dramatic increase in the number of incarcerations among women over the past three decades. In 1970, only 5,635 women were incarcerated in federal and state prisons. By 1985, however, this number increased to 21,296, and was as high as 74,730 by the latter part of 1996. Presently, there are over 90,000 women in U.S. prisons (National Women's Law Center, 1999). This constitutes a 256% increase in female incarcerations and a growth rate of 11.2% per year since 1985. Similar numbers of women were in local jails (McQuaide and Ehrenreich, 1998). These figures include a disproportionately higher number among women of color. Women have become the hidden victims of the state's zeal for incarceration (National Women's Law Center, 1999). Since incidence and prevalence rates among the female inmate population are increasing rapidly, it is important to recognize this vulnerable group as a significant one for policy, research, and program intervention. In spite of these drastic increases, however, little is known about the characteristics and needs of incarcerated mothers in general, and not much more is known about the care and welfare of their young children. A number of problems are associated with the rapidly increasing rate of incarcerations among African American women. The health problems of the mother as well as the care of the children are among the problems that place a serious burden on the grandmother, who is the primary caregiver of 53% of the children under 18 years. In spite of the rapid increase in incarcerations of African American mothers and the associated problems, as well as the increased popular and scholarly interest in the area, there is little systematic research on how imprisonment of daughters with minor children affect the family, and the grandmother caregiver, in particular, who must care for the vast majority of their young children. In an effort to highlight some of the issues and problems, this article will provide information on (1) sociodemographic and health characteristics of imprisoned mothers, (2) a review of recent research on custodial grandparenting, (3) incarcerations and family caregiving, and (4) implications for research. There is an urgent need for social scientists to study aggressively the scope, nature, and magnitude of the issues involved in incarceration of young African American mothers, and it's impact on grandmother caregivers. In an effort to ensure strong and healthy families, we need to understand how these and other social and public health problems influence the daily lives and well being of our most vulnerable population. Sociodemographic and Health Profile of Female Inmates The majority of the 84,500 women incarcerated in state and federal prison as of the end of 1998, are there for economic crimes. The rapid increase within the last 10 years is due, in part, to the worsening of economic conditions for women, as well as the increase in arrest rates because of the war on crime and the war on drugs. …