Community-Engaged Learning: Gender and Incarceration

4 units

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 nonviolent 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 related to 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. Although our scope will be national, we will focus on the corrections system in Missouri. Note: This is a community-engaged learning class, which means that it combines classroom learning with outside work at a community organization. In addition to regular class time, there is a service requirement that will necessitate an additional four to five hours per week. There are several organizations with which we are partnering, and students will be assigned to one of these groups to work with for the entire semester. Moreover, there is a required all-day field trip to visit the women's prison in Vandalia, Mo., and the men's prison in Bowling Green, Mo. If students cannot commit to these out-of-class obligations, which are required to pass the course, they should not register for this course. Prerequisite: Intro to Women and Gender Studies or Intro to Sexuality Studies. Juniors and seniors only. Waitlists controlled by Department; priority given to WGSS majors.