Work in Prisons: The Gender Difference that Intensifies with the Incarceration and Indicates the Lack of Human Dignity

Abstract

This study deals with gender inequality in the labour market, a situation that becomes worse when we talk about incarcerated women, showing the lack of human dignity in the prision system. Women’s participation in the labour market has increased over the years, but the gender difference is noticeable when we analyze the positions held and the pay gap. In the penitentiary system, situation is reversed, the number of incarcerated women who work is higher compared to men, and however the conditions referring to human dignity when we speak about gender are unconstitutional. The scope of this article is to lead to academic debate the issue of dignity of incarcerated women in labour market, since the prision system aggravates and indicates the gender difference. To archive the research purpose, the methodology used will be bibliographic and documentary, bringing the concept of work,the discussion about acquisition of the right to work for women and the analysis of data from the profile of incarcerated women, access to work and education in the prison environment. With a population of 37.828 women in spaces designed for men it is necessary think about work, as fundamental at re-socializing and at human dignity. Keywords: Women; Prison; Work; Human dignity. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-11-12 Publication date: June 30 th 2021