WOMEN IN A MEN’S WORLD: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY OF THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WORKING AT A MEN’S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
| dc.contributor.advisor | Martin , Stephanie | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Hellsten , Laurie | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Wason-Ellam, Linda | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Claypool, Tim | |
| dc.creator | Hrenyk, Jill Chantel 1982- | |
| dc.creator.orcid | 0000-0003-3918-9309 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2016-07-26T15:32:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-07-26T15:32:08Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2016-06 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016-07-26 | |
| dc.date.submitted | June 2016 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2016-07-26T15:32:09Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of women corrections workers working in a men’s correctional facility using narrative inquiry. Past research on women employed in corrections has largely been quantitative in nature focusing on problems and challenges that women are likely to face in a correctional environment. Additionally, the majority of research on women corrections workers is dated, having occurred in the 1970s and 1980s when women were first employed in men’s institutions. By using narrative inquiry I hoped to give a voice to women corrections workers in order to share their experiences. In order to explore these experiences I asked five women corrections workers employed at a men’s correctional facility to keep a diary reflecting on their experiences following their shifts for a one-week period, and also participate in a semi-structured interview about their experiences throughout their career. During the interview and diary entries, the participants were asked to reflect on and discuss topics related to being a woman in the corrections worker role, including challenges, rewards, gender issues, and self-identity. As I was in the unique position of also being a woman corrections worker, I took part in the study as a participant. A thematic analysis (Reissman, 2008) of the study data revealed several themes - Defying Tradition, The Asset of Women Corrections Workers, Women Surviving and Thriving in the Corrections Environment, Good Old Boy’s Club, Dual Identity: Corrections Worker First, Woman Second, Zero Harassment Tolerance?, Being Broken Down..., and Changes for the Worse? The themes were discussed in relation to the meanings they represented for the women (Polkinghorne, 1988). This study contributed to the literature on women working in men’s correctional facilities and suggested implications for women corrections workers, the institutions where they are employed, and areas for future research. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10388/7367 | |
| dc.subject | Narrative inquiry | |
| dc.subject | women working in men's corrections | |
| dc.subject | thematic analysis | |
| dc.title | WOMEN IN A MEN’S WORLD: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY OF THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WORKING AT A MEN’S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Educational Psychology and Special Education | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | School and Counselling Psychology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Saskatchewan | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Education (M.Ed.) |