Women behind bars: Physical and sexual aggression among inmates in a central Philippines rehabilitation center

• Main Author: Ruelan, Richard Fuentes
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Women > Philippines; Inmates of institutions > Philippines; Aggressiveness; Sexual ethics; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3323; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10161/viewcontent/TG03956_F_Partial.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study aimed to analyze the factors that influence the occurrence of physical and sexual aggression among women inmates in a Central Philippines rehabilitation center. Factors investigated were the personal characteristics of women offenders, such as sociodemographic and incarceration profile, physical and social conditions of the center. The nature and types of aggression as well as the responses of the women inmates were also determined. Fifteen incarcerated women were purposively chosen as subjects for the key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used. The study revealed that personal characteristic such as recidivism and length of sentence, physical, and social conditions of the center influenced the women inmates to participate in aggression. Furthermore, the informants can participate either actively or passively in aggression. Aggressive inmates were those who have no visitors, recidivists and long-timer while the victims of aggression are the passive participants. Dispute among inmates was the major source of aggression among them. Usually, a verbal attack triggers most of the aggression. The other causes of aggression were infrequent visitation and deprivation from personal needs. Physical and sexual aggressions among the women inmates are identified types of aggression. The physical aggression included slapping, pulling of hair, hitting with an object, and punching. Unwanted touching of intimate body parts, forcing someone to sleep into one's bed, unwanted holding of hands, stealing a kiss or hug, and labeling with sexual undertone were the kinds of sexual aggression. Most of the physical aggression incidences were triggered by verbal attack. The cases of physical aggression outnumbered the sexual ones. The harsh reality of prison life has negative effects on women inmates. The monotonous activities, strict rules and regulations, and infrequent visits contribute to the feeling of boredom. Incarcerated women wear tough and hardened facade especially in the event of aggression. Some responses were expressions of up feelings and filling deprived needs.