“We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison

This article is based on research with over 160 First Nations women in prisons in New South Wales, Australia. The research identified the lived experience of prison sentences for First Nations women in prison. Our research methodology was guided by an Aboriginal women’s advisory body called sista2si...

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Main Authors: Thalia Anthony, Gemma Sentance, Larissa Behrendt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Laws
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/10/3/74
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author Thalia Anthony
Gemma Sentance
Larissa Behrendt
author_facet Thalia Anthony
Gemma Sentance
Larissa Behrendt
author_sort Thalia Anthony
collection DOAJ
description This article is based on research with over 160 First Nations women in prisons in New South Wales, Australia. The research identified the lived experience of prison sentences for First Nations women in prison. Our research methodology was guided by an Aboriginal women’s advisory body called sista2sista. It was based on the principles of <i>Dadirri</i> in which we listened to the stories of First Nations women in prison <i>on their terms</i>. Consequently, many stories we heard were not about the criminal sentencing process itself, but about the impacts of imprisonment on their capacity to be caregivers in the community, including as mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, teachers and role models. The findings from this research are dual. First, the importance of listening to and empowering First Nations women in prison in policy making that concerns First Nations women. Second, the need to decarcerate First Nations mothers and listen and respond to their needs, expectations, priorities and aspirations, to ensure they are supported in fulfilling their role and responsibility to care, nurture, strengthen and lead their families and communities.
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spelling doaj.art-f87faca255b54cb0abf39880435851bb2023-11-22T13:55:04ZengMDPI AGLaws2075-471X2021-09-011037410.3390/laws10030074“We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in PrisonThalia Anthony0Gemma Sentance1Larissa Behrendt2Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaFaculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaJumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaThis article is based on research with over 160 First Nations women in prisons in New South Wales, Australia. The research identified the lived experience of prison sentences for First Nations women in prison. Our research methodology was guided by an Aboriginal women’s advisory body called sista2sista. It was based on the principles of <i>Dadirri</i> in which we listened to the stories of First Nations women in prison <i>on their terms</i>. Consequently, many stories we heard were not about the criminal sentencing process itself, but about the impacts of imprisonment on their capacity to be caregivers in the community, including as mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, teachers and role models. The findings from this research are dual. First, the importance of listening to and empowering First Nations women in prison in policy making that concerns First Nations women. Second, the need to decarcerate First Nations mothers and listen and respond to their needs, expectations, priorities and aspirations, to ensure they are supported in fulfilling their role and responsibility to care, nurture, strengthen and lead their families and communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/10/3/74prisonsfirst nations motherssystemic discriminationchild protectioncolonialism
spellingShingle Thalia Anthony
Gemma Sentance
Larissa Behrendt
“We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison
Laws
prisons
first nations mothers
systemic discrimination
child protection
colonialism
title “We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison
title_full “We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison
title_fullStr “We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison
title_full_unstemmed “We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison
title_short “We’re Not Being Treated Like Mothers”: Listening to the Stories of First Nations Mothers in Prison
title_sort we re not being treated like mothers listening to the stories of first nations mothers in prison
topic prisons
first nations mothers
systemic discrimination
child protection
colonialism
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/10/3/74
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