Christmas in a Women's Prison: Awakening Unmet Needs

"As Christmas approaches in a women's prison, the decorations and trees become brighter and fill up more of the available space, covering up blank walls and distracting the eye from harsh lighting and a maze of corridors. The women have taken part in creating the decorations, made drawings and paintings, put glitter balls on trees, and hung homemade paper chains. The overall effect is striking, evoking both nostalgia and sadness."

"For so many of the women incarcerated for crimes, often nonviolent, the holidays were not times of joy, peace, and harmonious family gatherings, but were marred by scenes of violence within their families, often alcohol- or drug-fueled, and characterised by disappointment and pain. The women in prison have often been the victims rather than the perpetrators of such violence, and many suffer lasting consequences, including acquired brain injury."

Decorations and trees in a women's prison brighten corridors as women participate in creating them, producing an effect that evokes nostalgia and sadness. The Christmas displays present a fantasy of holiday idealism that does not reflect most women's outside experiences, which often involved family violence, substance abuse, neglect, and fear. Many incarcerated women were victims rather than perpetrators, and many suffer lasting consequences, including acquired brain injury. One study found 64% reported histories indicative of brain injuries, 72% of which were traumatic and 62% were caused by domestic violence. Over 40% grew up in local authority care, and holidays can increase stress, self-harm, and suicide risks.

Read at Psychology Today