Background
Alaris is a Latina woman from Louisiana who has been incarcerated for almost 20
years. She is one of many survivors of sexual assault by an officer or supervisor in a prison or jail setting. Her supervisor began commenting on small things like her hair or makeup, which she dismissed, thinking it was normal behavior of men. She notes that it made her uncomfortable but tried her best to ignore it. As time went on, the supervisor went from commenting on to touching Alaris’s hair. He would single her out and get her alone and would hug her, touch her breasts, and rub up against her. Any time she attempted to protest, the supervisor would laugh and continue to demean her. After a while he began suggesting they have sexual interactions and even offered her money to watch her have sex with another inmate. This was not a safe or comfortable environment for Alaris and she notes it becoming intolerable. She was anxious and always on high alert, being sure to watch for him around every corner. He began getting frustrated with her and would physically harm her.
Things Get Worse
Alaris confided in one of her friends who came to visit her that this was happening. Her friend reported it to the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Alaris filed an emergency grievance which remains unanswered. It took a follow-up from her friend for the DOC to finally sent an investigator to talk with Alaris and others who had reported sexual abuse by the same supervisor. The day after she spoke with the
investigator, the claim was deemed “unsubstantiated” even though 3 independent women filed complaints against the man. The day after that, Alaris was forced to transfer to another facility and leave the two educational programs in which she was enrolled. This was a retaliation for speaking out, Alaris claims. She continues to advocate for herself and refuses to be silenced. She makes the point that just because she is serving a sentence for a crime, she does not deserve to be abused, and she is right. She is one of many people- no matter their gender- who is being sexually exploited at the hands of those who possess power over them. She is one of many people who receive repercussions for speaking up about sexual violence. Alaris is one voice who is attempting to give voices to the masses who are victims of sexual violence. The information about Alaris was found on a website focused on highlighting the stories of persons experiencing sexual violence in prison with the mission to raise awareness that "rape is not a part of the penalty" and give voices back to those whose voices have been taken away.
Big Picture
(In)Justice Is Served
Alaris’s story brings to light the issue of sexual assault in general, but more specifically, sexual assault in prisons. Sexual violence is not about sex. It is about power and control. Prisons mirror that, creating a dangerous environment for
inmates right from the start. The Stanford Prison Experiment (McLeod, 1970) showed how perceived power can lead a person to do awful things in the name of power and control. This explains how sexual violence in prisons has become such a pressing problem and why we need to pay attention to it. Not only is the prison’s system of power facilitating the issue, but so too is the fact that vulnerable populations are more likely to become targets of sexual violence. Women in prison are vulnerable as they are confined to the walls of their facility and must adhere to the instructions of those in charge of them; they lack formal agency. They are seen as being less than human and are continually silenced. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2018), from 2012-2015, there were 67,169 allegations of sexual victimization in correctional facilities. Of that number, 61,322 were investigated, and 5,187- a mere 8%- were substantiated. That is an incredibly small percentage showing that the other 92% of people did not receive justice for the crime that occurred against them and likely continued to endure it or the consequences that came from reporting it. Reporting is another key point to consider- many survivors of sexual violence do not report due to perceived consequences or other reasons, so the numbers of instances and unsubstantiated cases are likely significantly higher.
Docile Bodies
The prison system is a microcosm of the greater society in which we live. The United States operates on privilege and oppression, of power and control. Those in power adhere to it and often harm others in the process. Women of color in the prison system and in society in general are more threatened by sexual violence because they are caught in the crossfire of racism and sexism. They are often seen as being less-than-human, making it easier for people to target them. Society holds certain bodies to a higher value than others, and this has everything to do with race. Women of color’s bodies are given lower value and the women inside the bodies are treated accordingly.
Silencing
The act of silencing is a common theme that can be seen throughout the histories of different women of color. The actual silencing, though, is often in action before a woman has even spoken out at all. Kimberlé Crenshaw (1991) calls it silent suffering and says women often do not speak out to protect themselves from further violence, to protect their families, to follow cultural norms, etc. For women of color in prison, they have an additional layer. Like Alaris, speaking up can lead to a slew of physical and emotional consequences. It could also be due to a general (and intentional by those in power) lack of knowledge of available resources, such as rape crisis centers. Language and financial barriers often stand in the way of receiving help. Being incarcerated complicates this as well. As conversations outside of the walls relate to sexual assault and are helping people become more aware of their rights and resources, these conversations are withheld in a prison setting.
What Can We Do?
So, what can we do about it? Lila Abu-Lughod (2013) points her finger at the issue of the rhetoric of “saving”. It is an issue that arose with colonialism and has managed to stick. Saying that we are saving women of color from sexual violence is not appropriate because it implies that the culture from which they came and the people
within it are lesser-than. It is important to note the structures that exist which facilitate violence, but it is not our job to “save” them. However, we can listen, believe, and advocate. Listen to survivors, believe their stories, and advocate for them. Being an advocate involves keeping in mind what that person wants. It is not our place to insert our beliefs, which come from our unique experiences and cultural values, into their lives, but rather support them with possible resources and avenues to follow.
For more information about sexual assault and relevant resources, click here.
For more information about women of color and sexual assault, click here.
Relevant Texts
Abu-Lughod, L. (2013, November 01). Do Muslim Women Need Saving? Retrieved May
5, 2019, from http://ideas.time.com/2013/11/01/do-muslim-women-need-saving/
Alairis. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://justdetention.org/story/alairis/
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2018, July 25). Bureau of Justice Statistics - Sexual Victimization Reported by Adult Correctional Authorities, 2012-15 - Press Release. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/svraca1215pr.cfm
Crenshaw, K. (1991) Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, 43, 1241-1299.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1229039
McLeod, S. (1970, January 01). Saul McLeod. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from
https://www.simplypsychology.org/zimbardo.html