1.
People who are
released from prison in the US are often met with very few resources to
facilitate their reentry into society. The reentry process is often
disorienting – especially if the person has been incarcerated for multiple
years – and incredibly difficult. I am
interested in how people have historically responded to this harsh expectation
of immediate re-integration into everyday life. More specifically, I hope to
learn about how former inmates have established identities and communities as
well as returned to their former roles as members of families and of the
workforce.
Some questions
that need further exploration:
-
To
what extent should I try to find a regional focus?
-
How
can parenthood change or remain the same after people return from prison?
-
How
does a person’s experience in solitary confinement affect their ability to
reintegrate into society?
-
When
do former inmates become activists and educators?
-
This
is certainly a thoroughly examined topic – how to make sure I find a workable
perspective that is not too repetitive of existing work
Sources:
- “Return to drug
use and overdose after release from prison: a qualitative study of risk and
protective factors”. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414824/
- National
Institute of Justice. “Statistics on Recidivism”. http://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/recidivism/pages/welcome.aspx
Wishlist:
- Memoirs
of formerly incarcerated people that span several years
- A
study of the dynamics of families who have had a parent return after
incarceration
2.
I have a general
interest in motherhood/birth and their interaction with female empowerment. A
potential topic for research would relate to the development of the
sociological study of American birthing practices, which has largely happened
in the last forty years, coinciding with the development of several modern
methods of birth control. I am interested in exploring how the “female agency”
concepts that have informed activism regarding reproduction control have roots
in the agency exerted (or not exerted) by women in their own birthing
procedures. Specifically, I am interested in women’s choices to receive care
from midwives, doctors, and/or nurses.
Sources:
- “Lying-in: A History of Childbirth in
America”. Richard Wertz, Dorothy Wertz.
- “Call the
Midwife”. Jennifer Worth.
Wishlist:
- Documentation of the birthing procedures of urban women throughout the 20th century (physicians/midwives)
- Documentation of the birthing procedures of urban women throughout the 20th century (physicians/midwives)
- Personal memoirs of women throughout the 20th century who actively made and recorded decisions regarding their birthing procedures
It sounds you could take your first topic in several different directions, and maybe incorporate interdisciplinary sources such as sociology or psychology into your historical research. The first person that came to mind after reading your topic was Malcolm X. Even if you don't necessarily focus on him, it might be worth exploring how time in prison can be a politicizing/radicalizing factor.
ReplyDeleteI think looking at reentry efforts throughout history would be really fascinating. I like that you are focusing on families and communities and identity building, as incarceration affects so many aspects of a person's life. I think it would be interesting to try to pinpoint the changes in the philosophy of justice, with specific attention to the consequences individuals face after serving a sentence. You could also trace the origins of the rehabilitative justice movement.
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