FOCUS
In recent decades, much of the public debate about mass incarceration has centered on Black men. Incarcerated women have been historically neglected, although women’s incarceration rates have grown at twice the pace of men’s, with the majority of women being of reproductive age. Research shows that incarceration negatively influences women’s health, where incarcerated women suffer from mental health problems, substance abuse, and prior sexual, physical, and psychological trauma. This is especially true for minority women who are of reproductive age and come from low-income communities. Denae seeks to explore initiatives that address women’s reproductive health care across different carceral spaces, and support health care services for incarcerated women once they are released. She hopes to inform health policy that better serves incarcerated and previously incarcerated women by ensuring their gender-specific health needs are met on a national scale.
MORE ABOUT DENAE
Due to her sociology and criminology training, Denae is well-equipped to provide necessary quantitative and qualitative data on rates of gender-specific health care providers and reproductive screening practices that largely impact incarcerated and previously incarcerated women.
DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDEE — SPRING 2023
Intimate Spaces in Carceral Places: An Examination of Black Doula Care with Incarcerated Pregnant People
Denae’s dissertation will use qualitative, in-depth interviews to explore the experiences and perspectives of Black doulas who provide care to incarcerated pregnant people. It will explore whether their gender and racial identity influence their work, including their experiences with individual and structural-level gendered racism while working in carceral and healthcare settings. It will also describe their clients’ maternal health care needs and whether these needs differ based on their clients’ incarceration status and race.
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