Self-Esteem, Gender, and Sexuality: How the Alabama Department of Corrections Limits Individuality and Privacy of Inmates
- October 21st, 2021
- in Capstone Commentary
By: David Ware
Section I: Introduction
The Alabama Department of Corrections states that one of its main goals is to promote esteem building amongst the inmates in its custody.[1]Â Becoming incarcerated already comes with anxiety and hardship, so it would make sense for our prison system to promote the self-esteem of inmates. There are certain variables that are essential to building and maintaining a high self-esteem, which include privacy and individuality. However, when looking at the mandates, rules, and regulations imposed on prisoners, it is impossible for an inmate to fully enjoy privacy and individuality. Through constant searches and seizures, overcrowding, and lack of personal space, privacy is utterly impossible.[2] Additionally, through the use of regulations surrounding hair and clothing, the Department of Corrections inhibits the self-expression of its inmates, thereby limiting their outward expression of individuality.[3] While these rules and regulations surrounding privacy and individuality impact all prisoners, inmates who are not cisgender and/or heterosexual are hit even harder. For queer individuals, outward expression is paramount to becoming their truest selves.[4] Strict rules surrounding clothing and hair significantly impact the self-expression of queer inmates, and thus high self-esteem is difficult to achieve and maintain. Although the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) proposes that one of its main goals is esteem building, its strict rules surrounding individuality and privacy make attaining a high self-esteem virtually impossible for inmates, especially those who are queer.