The Prison Industrial Complex

In: International feminist journal of politics, Volume 8, Issue 1, p. 130-144

Abstract

The perpetuation of colonization within the US prison-industrial complex & the transformation of female criminals into racialized enemies are studied. After illuminating the close connection between US corporations & penal institutions, it is contended that the prison-industrial complex is the continuation of Western colonization; the authors conversations with female prisoners & fieldwork are resourced & contemporary research documenting the exportation of US penal institutions to foreign nations are cited to bolster this contention. Attention is then dedicated to demonstrating how the fervor for domestic & international security has resulted in the criminalization of entire racial minority communities, especially single mothers of color; moreover, it is demonstrated that these individuals who have been targeted by US neo-liberalism are typically those who are most severely plagued by structural inequalities in US society. In addition, the implications of adopting this perspective toward the US prison-industrial complex for future feminist international relations & approaches to realizing social change are also pondered. J. W. Parker