Interaction and leadership among female prisoners

The purpose of this research was to investigate the informal social structure of a state correctional institution for women. Of sociological concern for this researcher was the process whereby the informal social structure emerged as women differentially defined the situation in prison and directed lines of action in response to their interpretation of the form al social structure. Further, in order to understand why the informal social structure developed, it was important for this researcher to explain the process whereby the interaction patterns of the women in this institution developed relatively stable and repetitious structure. In addition to seeking an understanding of the process of interaction emerging into structures, this researcher was concerned with the nature of the relationships that were created and sustained as well as the types of interaction found in prisons. An examination of the literature suggested that leadership in the form of deference patterns had been studied in men's prisons but not in women's prisons. Further, the literature on women's prisons suggested some basic disagreements among Giallombardo, Ward and Kassebaum, and Heffernan with regard to the nature of homosexual involvements in women's prisons. Thus, this researcher designed a research project to examine the process of the emergence of interaction patterns, the nature of interaction with special emphasis on two types of interaction (leadership and homosexuality), and the relationship of interaction, leadership, and homosexuality. The major instrument utilized by the researcher for gaining insight into the patterns of interaction at this institution was field observation. In addition, to the direct observation of the everyday activities of the women, an open- ended questionnaire was used in interviewing every available and willing woman in the research population. Finally, biographical and criminal background data were gathered on each woman from the case history record files. The findings suggested that women who interpreted the informal social structure as meaning that their best adjustment in prison was to withdraw from other women were the isolates. However, other women in interpreting the formal social structure directed lines of action that allowed them to be highly involved in work assignments and treatment programs. Thus, these women were the high interactors, and leaders of this institution. Further, the leaders were also found to be homosexual studs who were outspoken and willing to stand up for themselves and for change in regulations that would benefit the entire population. Finally, this researcher's findings with regard to the nature of homosexual relationships differed from Giallombardo's findings. While Giallombardo found pseudo families based on relatively permanent homosexual dyads, this researcher found brief homosexual dyads. Additional research would be needed to clarify and explain these differences.