The implication of deprivation of freedom on fathering: a qualitative study

Abstract

This study aims to analyze fathering practices and the meanings attributed to it by imprisoned men. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve fathers, incarcerated in a penal institution located in in southern Brazil. Transcribed data were analyzed through the Critical Discourse Analysis. Results are presented according to two themes: Deprivation of freedom X Deprivation of Fatherhood and Criminality X Fatherhood. Our findings indicate that the meanings attributed to fathering practices within deprivation of freedom context rely on different psychosocial factors and the prison context itself. The results presented here demonstrate that paternity in prison is a complex phenomenon and should be a focus of academic problematization. Its relevance is given both in the context of gender studies and in the studies involving the family and different settings.

Parental practices under the perspective of incarcerated fathers

“…The demonstration of direct affection through hugs and kisses was reduced, which may be related to the decrease in contact due to the separation of fathers and children due to imprisonment. The small change in this dimension can be explained, to some extent, by the fact that being recognized as good fathers can be beneficial to the image of imprisoned men in front of the prison institution and their subsequent community reintegration, even though the appeal to paternity does not have the same force that the encouragement of motherhood has within the prison space (Arditti, 2012;Cúnico et al, 2020), a situation that may have influenced the responses of the participants in this dimension.…”

“…Possibly, such results are related to the fact that, not rarely, incarcerated individuals do not maintain close and active contact with their children when in liberty (Cúnico, et al, 2020), which may justify the little emphasis they place on disciplinary practices. In the same way that occurs with some separated parents (Almeida, et al, 2000), it is possible that the restricted relationship contact with their children has made the participants of this study prioritize other dimensions to the detriment of the discipline when they were not imprisoned.…”

Fatores associados às práticas de violência conjugal em mulheres de apenados

“…(8) Estudo realizado com mulheres que visitavam companheiros presos em uma penitenciária localizada no Rio Grande do Sul, apontou que muitas delas eram controladas fora da prisão por seus companheiros que estavam dentro da instituição, e que estes mantinham certo poder disciplinar sobre elas. (22) É importante destacar que tais atos não são exclusivos de homens envolvidos com a criminalidade, pois estudo realizado no Espírito Santo, com mulheres cujos parceiros não tinham quaisquer envolvimento com a justiça, revelou que eles tinham comportamentos de caráter controlador, com o objetivo de privar a liberdade, os relacionamentos interpessoais e os direitos de escolha das mulheres. (23) Mesmo que o presente estudo tenha evidenciado importante relação entre violência e o fato de a mulher ter filhos com o agressor, na literatura não foram encontradas evidências que justifiquem este achado.…”

Stories of the “good father”: The role of fatherhood among incarcerated men in Mexico

“…I don't want my daughter to grow up with emotional problems. I want my daughter to be a safe woman, a happy woman.If the incarcerated fathers could not protect their children from the dangers of the “real world” they could, at least, protect them from the prison environment and from the knowledge that their fathers were in prison (see also Cúnico et al., 2020; Miranda and Granato, 2016). Giving up on getting visits from their children was an important, real, and symbolic sacrifice they were willing to make in order to prove their fatherhood.…”

“…These memories of fatherhood from before prison, and claims of change, may easily be viewed with skepticism. The stories sometimes reflected a wish to get revenge on wives or girlfriends who had left them, blamed the mothers for their lack of contact with their children (see also Cúnico et al., 2020), or seemed to be crafted to create a convincing story of change. As imprisoned men in a relatively macho society, involved fatherhood was only one of many ways of narrating fatherhood.…”