Gender of the Incarcerated Parent
When considering the effects of parental incarceration on children we must look at a major factor and that is the gender of the incarcerated parent. Ross D. Parke and Alison Clarke-Stewart stress the importance of this throughout their paper, "Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children." According to Parke and Clarke-Stewart, fathers account for 90% of incarcerated parents. They discuss several effects of parental incarceration that are directly impacted by the gender of the parent. First, they analyze the living arrangements at the time of incarceration. Noting that more than half of the children are already living with someone other than their biological parent. As to be expected, the half that is living with a biological parent is living with their mother. The authors conclude their assessment of living arrangements by stating that, consequently, this is not something typically considered when evaluating the effects of parental incarceration on children. Second, Parke and Clarke-Stewart focus on the length of a sentence and how that varies based on gender. According to their research, fathers spend 80-103 months in prison and mothers spend 49-66 months in prison. They also explain that fathers are likely serving sentences for violent crimes, whereas, mothers are typically serving time for non-violent or drug-related crimes. They conclude that there is a greater impact on children when the mother is incarcerated for a shorter period but note that a long-term prison sentence of a father has deleterious effects on the father-child relationship. Lastly, the authors evaluate where the children go after a parent is incarcerated. To my surprise, the authors highlight the fact that less than 10% of children with incarcerated parents are in foster care. Based on their research, 90% of children with incarcerated fathers live with their mother, 28%-34% live with their father when the mother is incarcerated, but it is more common for children to live with grandparents (45%-53%). Its hard to argue with statistics, therefore, I agree with the research presented in this paper. I wonder though if the facts and figures change based upon the gender of the child and the gender of the incarcerated parent? Do girls struggle more if their mother is incarcerated? Are boys destined for a troubled road without their father?
A second source that I have been referencing in my research is the Drug Policy Alliance. Their mission is to decriminalize non-violent drug offenders and promote drug reform. They believe that people should have self-rule over what they put into their bodies, they do not agree with drug use or abuse, but they believe that individuals struggling with substance abuse need help not imprisonment, so long as their behavior does not hurt others. Within this site, Ifetayo Harvey describes his personal experience with an incarcerated parent in his article, "Children of Incarcerated Parents Bear the Weight of the War on Drugs." At the beginning of his article, Harvey touches on how minorities are disproportionately affected by drug-related offenses that land them in prison. He then goes on to tell his audience that for much of his childhood Harvey simply thought his father was away, living somewhere else, and that the inmate number he wrote on the envelope of his letters was his father’s apartment number. He describes the emotions he felt when his mother finally told him the truth, that his father was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking. Harvey describes some of the effects he felt because of his father’s incarceration; he questioned his existence, he didn’t know where to go for help, he was angry. Years later, in college Harvey finally received help processing his emotions when someone mentioned that it may be helpful for him to look into the counseling services at his university. A few questions came to mind while reading this article. How many children with incarcerated parents could have been saved from a troubled future had someone taken notice that they were struggling? How many children with incarcerated parents attend and complete college?
The video below highlights the toll parental incarceration of a mother can have on children, as well as the family members that are left to care for the children.
Figure 1: Clarke-Stewart, Allison, and Ross D. Parke. "Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children."ASPE, 12 Dec. 2001, aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/effects-parental-incarceration-young-children.The video below highlights the toll parental incarceration of a mother can have on children, as well as the family members that are left to care for the children.
From the series "Locked Apart: Impact of Incarceration on Family" from Gabriela Bulisova on Vimeo.
Video: Bulisova, Gabriela. “Locked Apart: Impact of Incarceration on Family." Vimeo, 12 Feb. 2015, vimeo.com/120430549.
I find it quite interesting how fathers are statistically more likely to be incarcerated than mothers. Are females the more cautious types which is why you see less cases with them? Are fathers the reckless ones trying desperately to be the provider in the family? I do agree with children being affected more when the mother is incarcerated. Children really crave that care and compassion that only a mother can provide. Fathers can try all they want but it is never the same.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting to read about the difference between children being told the truth about a parent’s incarceration and being lied to. I’ve always believed that the truth is always the best thing to tell children. I would imagine that telling a child the devastating news that they will be separated from their parent could be beyond difficult and therefore a white lie seems like an easy solution. I wonder what variables effect the outcome of children with parents who are incarcerated. I’m interested to find out what helps children over come their situations and succeed later in life.
ReplyDeleteThis information is interesting. Fathers are always more likely to get locked up than mothers. It seems as if it's only the male who does the crime. I have heard a lot about how father's not being in their son's life affects them greatly. Wether he was locked up or just never around, it affects the child, more so for boys. Mother's have more of a caring role so for her to get locked up can be more stressful for the children I would assume. I do believe boys will more likely follow in their fathers footsteps that are locked up because they want to look up to him but don't have the positive role model. It did surprise me that there is a greater percentage to children staying with family when needed instead of foster care. It's nice when family is there to help.
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