Community-Engaged Learning: Gender and Incarceration

Since President Reagan declared the war on drugs in the 1980s, the numbers of women in prison have increased dramatically. Due to mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and increasingly harsh sentences for non-violent offenses, the U.S. prison population has swelled to unprecedented numbers over the last few decades. While women are the fastest growing population in prison, men still make up the vast majority of prisoners, and the system is largely geared toward men and their needs. In this course, we will explore the historical treatment of and contemporary issues for women and girls who get caught up in the criminal justice system. Through readings, films, reflective writings, and facility tours, we will explore the impact of incarceration on women and their families. While our scope will be national, we will focus on the corrections system in Missouri. IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a community engaged learning class, which means it combines classroom learning with outside work at a community organization. In addition to regular class time, there is a service requirement, which will necessitate an additional 4-5 hours a week. There are several organizations with which we are partnering, and you will be assigned to one of these groups to work with for the entire semester. Moreover, there is a required all-day field trip on a Friday in January when we will visit the women's prison in Vandalia, Missouri and the men's prison in Bowling Green, Missouri. If you cannot commit to these out-of-class obligations, which are required to pass the course, do not register for the class. Prereq: Intro to Women and Gender Studies or Sexuality and the State: Intro to Sexuality Studies. JUNIORS AND SENIORS ONLY Waitlists controlled by Department; priority given to WGSS majors. 4 units.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; AS SD I; FA SSC; AR SSC; AS SC

Community-Engaged Learning: Gender and Incarceration

WOMEN, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3171

Section 01