Anaconda, Jet Fuel, White Robes, and Miaow Miaow: The Argot of Women Prisoners

Abstract

This qualitative study based on research conducted in a prison facility for women in Israel aims to establish the existence of an argot among women prisoners and to analyze how it reflects their subculture. This research found that the argot focuses on seven different aspects of prison life: same-sex sexual relations, loyalty, prisoner status, drugs, relations between mentally stable prisoners and mentally ill prisoners, attitudes toward the prison staff, and threats and violence. The argot concerning gender-oriented distresses was found the most common, and the authors concluded that this aspect is the most stressful and threatening in the prisoner subculture.