A penological approach to the social construct of sexuality

Prison sex research has generally followed an essentialist theoretical approach. Only Alarid (2000) examined jail sex using a social constructionist approach to understanding sexuality behind bars. Using data collected from 142 male inmates in a Southern maximumsecurity correctional facility, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether engaging in sexual behavior affects a change in the sexual orientation of male prison inmates, using a social constructionist theoretical approach. In addition, the influence of several sociodemographic and situational variables on the change in sexual orientation was examined. The only statistically significant variable associated with a change in sexual orientation was engaging in homosexual behavior. Inmates were over 52 times more likely to change their sexual orientation if they engaged in homosexual activity while incarcerated, supporting the social constructionist theoretical approach.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• Gibson, Lauren Elizabeth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hensley, Christopher L.
• Eigenberg, Helen; Love, Sharon Redhawk
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Homosexuality
• Prisoners -- Sexual behavior
• Social constructionism

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/23

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1023