Status of women incarceration in U.S.A

Marylee is very effective in presenting her criticism on the U.S government policies on drugs that lead to high incarceration of women more than any other country in the world. In her argument she asserts that the war on drugs has mostly affected the women of colour and their children in United States specifically. However, these are not her personal sentiments but a result of an analysis on the various studies that have been carried out on the same. Documented results have shown that the increase in number of women in U.S is as a result of economic emancipation (Kajstura & Immarigeon, 2015). This results from the global economic model capitalism that promotes the spirit of individualism in a neoliberal society. She successfully relates the effects of such a socioeconomic model that tends to socially exclude the marginalized citizens who are mostly the women of colour. She also connects the lack of economic inclusion of women to their involvement in drug dealing which finally lands the behind bars.

She manages to make a difference while putting across the case of helpless women of colour who have been denied an opportunity to participate in economic activities which in turn pushes them to intermediate criminal activities. This then steers them to crimes related to drugs, low-paid work and sex-work. She also proves her case with proportionate figures that show the changes that have occurred in the composition of female population in U.S prisons. She is able capture the attention of readers by showing how people with vested interests like politicians, prison unions’ representatives and industries that depends on prison consumption use the situation for economic interest or political gain. She proves her case by presenting the disturbing case of privatisation of prison driven by global capitalism (REYNOLDS, 2008).

The fairness in this article is shown in the author’s non-radical, people driven change of the situation. Her recommendations are quite reasonable since she calls for an all-inclusive activism, not through deviance but by use of positive forces through world organisations such as World Bank (REYNOLDS, 2008). Her conclusion is reasonable since it captures the sentiments of other documented arguments.

 

 

 

 

References

REYNOLDS, M (2008).The War on Drugs, Prison Building, and Globalization: Catalysts for the Global Incarceration of Women. 2-25

Kajstura, A. & Immarigeon, R. (2015).States of Women's Incarceration: The Global Context