A new book offers an insight into the experiences of fathers behind bars in Australia.
Dr Tess Bartlett, an independent research consultant and senior report writer / analyst at the Waitangi Tribunal Unit in New Zealand, interviewed 39 fathers in prison in Victoria about their experiences of parenthood during incarceration. She also wanted to hear about what services and programs are needed.
The book is called ‘Fathers in Prison: New Insights in Masculinities, Identity and Carceral Space’ and was published by Routledge in late July.
It explores masculinity, imprisonment and the impact of incarceration on families, through the interviews with fathers in prison.
“Lots of them said it would have been better to have more support when they entered the prison,” Bartlett told About Time. “They said it would have been good for someone to ask them about their kids, or whether they had kids, and how they could be supported on the outside.”
Bartlett’s research has shown her that a focus on fathering can help men survive prison and enables them to maintain normal relations with their families.
“If you give people something that they can focus on, whether it’s being a parent or someone doing their job or looking after their pet, that becomes part of their identity and means it’s something that can help them belong and feel connected to other people,” she said.
“If you’re in prison and you have that focus on being a father or a parent, you have that sense of belonging, that connection, and you’re able to talk about that openly in a space that actually supports it, rather than feeling like you have to change yourself or hide it in order to fit into the population you’re in.
“It’s about giving something positive – a positive identity to focus on to do with fathering.”
Bartlett’s research has shown her that a focus on fathering can help men survive prison and enables them to maintain normal relations with their families.
“If you give people something that they can focus on, whether it’s being a parent or someone doing their job or looking after their pet, that becomes part of their identity and means it’s something that can help them belong and feel connected to other people,” she said.
“If you’re in prison and you have that focus on being a father or a parent, you have that sense of belonging, that connection, and you’re able to talk about that openly in a space that actually supports it, rather than feeling like you have to change yourself or hide it in order to fit into the population you’re in.
“It’s about giving something positive – a positive identity to focus on to do with fathering.”
