Voice, Counterspaces, and Ethical Care in Research With Black Women With Trauma and Incarceration Histories

Formerly incarcerated women face diverse challenges to re-entry, which include recovering from health illnesses and trauma to navigating various systems of stigma and surveillance. It is these multilevel challenges to reintegration that also make formerly incarcerated women vulnerable participants in research. As such, this qualitative study explores how 28 formerly incarcerated Black women experience the research interview process. Findings revealed that women participated in research because these contexts were viewed as spaces for “truth telling” and increasing awareness that can effect changes in the lives of communities facing trauma. Moreover, the participants perceived the interview process to allow them to share their pasts in ways that can promote healing and recovery. Participants also discussed risks of emotional distress and anticipatory fears regarding imbalanced researcher–participant dynamics. The implications for antioppressive, compassionate interviewing practices underscore the need for greater considerations of the role of the researcher and how they contribute to women’s recovery from complex trauma and illness.

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“Every time I tell my story I learn something new”: Voice and inclusion in research with Black women with histories of substance use and incarceration

Criminology & Criminal Justice ◽

10.1177/17488958211005820 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174889582110058

Author(s):

Alana J. Gunn ◽

Melissa Hardesty ◽

Nicole Overstreet ◽

Scyatta Wallace

Keyword(s):

Black Women ◽

Research Process ◽

Incarcerated Women ◽

Personal Recovery ◽

Community Based ◽

Formerly Incarcerated ◽

Raising Awareness ◽

Trauma Informed ◽

Formerly Incarcerated Women

While current ethical procedures aim to minimize risks to imprisoned individuals, there is heightened awareness of the need to protect those who participate in research post-incarceration while under community-based supervision. Formerly incarcerated women, in particular, face myriad challenges to community reintegration which also make them vulnerable participants in research. As such, this study explores how 28 formerly incarcerated Black women experience the qualitative research process. Findings revealed that women engaged in research because these contexts were viewed as therapeutic spaces for raising awareness that can help others. Moreover, the interview process allowed women to share their pasts in ways that promote their recovery from addiction. Participants also reported risks of emotional distress and fears regarding researcher stigma. The implications for trauma-informed interviewing practices underscore the need for greater considerations of the role of the researcher, research environment, and how they contribute to one’s personal recovery.

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Community-Driven Curating in Per(Sister): Incarcerated Women of Louisiana

Journal of Curatorial Studies ◽

10.1386/jcs_00045_7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 248-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Megan R. Flattley

Keyword(s):

Social Justice ◽

New Orleans ◽

Social Issues ◽

Incarcerated Women ◽

Art Museum ◽

Formerly Incarcerated ◽

Collective Building ◽

External Actors ◽

Formerly Incarcerated Women

The exhibition Per(Sister): Incarcerated Women of Louisiana (2019) developed community-driven and co-productive curatorial practices through a partnership with directly impacted stakeholders. This article presents three characteristics that made the partnership between the Newcomb Art Museum and consultants from a community of formerly incarcerated women and activists in New Orleans a success: an understanding of the politics of both the issue and the site, a sharing and collective building of power, and a polyvocal exhibition format. Within the context of the role of curating in struggles for social justice, this article outlines the importance of working with external actors, such as movement leaders and activists, to ensure accountability, equity and reciprocity in exhibitions that address social issues.

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"On my own and makin' it": Exploring positive well-being among formerly incarcerated women

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e537902012-049 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

S. M. Vitorino

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

Incarcerated Women ◽

Formerly Incarcerated ◽

Formerly Incarcerated Women

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Empowered Caring: An Ethical Framework for Participatory Action Research

International Journal for Human Caring ◽

10.20467/1091-5710.12.4.50 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 50-55

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Ethic Of Care ◽

Incarcerated Women ◽

Ethical Framework ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Formerly Incarcerated ◽

Political Issues ◽

Formerly Incarcerated Women

Participatory action research (PAR), as a “new paradigm” approach, involves additional ethical and political issues beyond those encountered in empirical and interpretive models of science. This paper describes PAR methodology, a comprehensive ethical framework that is inclusive of the ethic of care and virtue, and applications with formerly incarcerated women.

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