A Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis of the Experiences of Community Reintegration for Women Leaving Prison

Abstract

Women are a small, yet growing, increasingly diverse and complex group out of the overall Canadian prison population. From 2005 to 2015, the population of people in Canadian prisons rose by approximately 10% and most of this growth can be attributed to the increase of visible minorities, individuals of Indigenous descent and women in prison. Presently, more than 50% of the women are under supervision in community, thus in need of support as they attempt to socially reintegrate.

Unfortunately, in comparison to the average Canadian, formerly incarcerated women carry a greater rate of mental health and substance abuse issues and are more likely to have a history of sexual or physical abuse. In comparison to men, women are often more vulnerable and likely to experience negative outcomes from incarceration, including continuous stigmatization while re-entering the community. Thus, women leaving prison may face a wide array of constraints to achieving a healthy lifestyle.

Thankfully, decades of research have shown that relationships hold great value in helping women achieve a sense of normalcy in their lives during their transitions from prison into community. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of women reintegrating into community after imprisonment. To do this, I performed a feminist critical discourse analysis (FCDA) on a data set of longitudinal transcribed interviews with six women who have experienced incarceration at the Grand Valley Institution for Women (GVI). The women took part in a community-based restorative justice program, known as Stride Circles, in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.