Media representation of federally sentenced women and leisure opportunities: Ramifications for social inclusion

Abstract

Recent policy developments, such as those guided by the federal Correctional Service of Canada's document Creating Choices, have been directed toward women‐centred approaches to rehabilitation of federally sentenced women in Canada. Content analysis of media response to a women‐centred event involving the community and federally sentenced women serves as a platform for reflective examination of the values around leisure and the possible challenges to social inclusion in the presence of conflicting societal values. National and local newspaper reports of a leisure and wellness day called “Women's Day Away” and reports related to a federal prison for women were examined over a nine‐month period. Initially intangible elements embedded in the media representations of leisure opportunities for federally sentenced women appeared to work against the intent of policy recommendations, and weaken the prospect for social inclusion on release. However, further investigation suggested that the local media provided space for negotiation of conflict and tension that enabled the emergence of a shared understanding of difference, ultimately increasing the potential for social inclusion.