Overall, masculinity in prison is dramatically different
than what is society typically expects from men. While in prison, men are more accustomed
to toxic masculinity, where by domination and aggressive competition are
thwarted throughout the grounds. Inmates reconstruct alternative definitions of
what masculinity is than what the typical norm is outside of prison. The propensity
for violence and aggression become a significant problem for inmates leaving
and entering society. If you think of it, inmates need to adjust going into
prison and when they leave. This type of change is confusing, and can be
factored to whether crime will be continued upon reentering society. As I have
talked about before, resistance in the inside to counseling and treatment, make
leaving prison a potential problem. What will inmates do in the future when the
options for treatment or help are offered? Will they stick to their altered
masculinity form or will they be able to adapt and transition accordingly so as
to prevent their return to prison. I believe there are all kinds of possible
solutions to this type of influence. One of the things that I have learned in
my Restorative Justice class is that repairing the harm comes from taking into consideration
the perspectives (inclusion) of the offender, the victim, and the community. I
feel that in some form, prisons could be systematically structured in holding a
similar model for understanding what masculinity is and how it can impact one’s
life. Restorative justice is known for accountability and has been known to
reduce crime in the areas where restorative justice approaches are practiced.
The education received from this message could be vast and could bring about
possible reductions in recidivism rates. More examinations of masculinity and
violence should move towards a better operationalization of the concept of
masculinity. Without a strong operational definition, interactions between
masculinity and other variables are impossible. More elaboration on both
positive and negative outlets that exist to assert masculinity is necessary.
Future efforts need to include both men and women in their sample research. Masculinity is
too often only examined in relation to men. Masculinity is a characteristic of
gender, not sex; therefore the addition of women to the sample may greatly
increase the current knowledge base. Messerschmitt (1993) only discussed men in
his masculinity hypothesis, the appropriate and less appropriate outlets that
women have to assert their gender may lead to a better conceptualization of
Messerschmitt’s original idea.
References:
Messerschmidt, James W. 1993. Masculinities and Crime: Critique and
Reconceptuatlization of Theory: Rowan & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
