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.
Highlights
When we examine the prison environment, the experience of deprivation of freedom transforms relationships at all levels, the father-child relationship being no exception
Despite the high number of imprisoned men who are fathers (Mapson, 2013), fathering is rarely examined in a prison context
The studies on maternity in prison seek to understand the impact of female incarceration on the experience of being a mother (Lee, Sansone, Swanson, & Tatum, 2012; Miranda & Granato, 2016; Techera, Garibotto, & Urreta, 2012)
Summary
When we examine the prison environment, the experience of deprivation of freedom transforms relationships at all levels, the father-child relationship being no exception. The studies on maternity in prison seek to understand the impact of female incarceration on the experience of being a mother (Lee, Sansone, Swanson, & Tatum, 2012; Miranda & Granato, 2016; Techera, Garibotto, & Urreta, 2012). This fact shows that in prison, too, maternity is seen as more relevant than paternity. This is probably because culturally, motherhood is still seen as central to the identity of women, and it is no different with those mothers who are in prison
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