Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Abstract

In this presentation I will discuss some of the preliminary findings from my qualitative research in the mother and baby unit within HMP Styal, a women’s prison in the North West of England.

In the UK, if a woman receives a custodial sentence when pregnant, or if she already has a baby in the community, she can apply to serve her sentence in one of six prison Mother and Baby Units. These units prevent the separation of mum and baby by allowing the child to live within the prison, up to the age of 18 months. The units provide a number of services designed to support the mother and baby, including parenting classes, crèche, and activities that promote the child’s healthy development. The main aim is to foster strong attachment, and to promote ‘good parenting’.

In this presentation I have two aims. First, to describe the ‘moral world’ of the mother and baby unit, highlighting the central values and commitments that are in play, and exploring how these are practiced and negotiated by different actors. In particular, I discuss how the prison’s goal of rehabilitation is tied to the identities of these women as mothers, and how different stakeholders define a ‘good mother’ in this context.

Second, I pose a normative question: how should the prison respect these women’s autonomy as mothers, whilst also restricting their liberty as prisoners? In order to answer this question, I consider the relative importance of a range of important yet often conflicting ethical values, including justice, care, trust and responsibility.

Forthcoming events

Infectious Disease Seminar Series: Evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions

Monday, 12 June 2023, 1pm to 2pm @ BDI/OxPop Building Seminar Room LG 0-1, Old Road Campus, Headington, OX3 7LF

Alcohol phenotypes and how they are related to fMRI derived brain health measurements

Tuesday, 13 June 2023, 11am to 12pm @ Big Data Institute LG 0 Seminar room

Folic acid fortification and disease prevention

Tuesday, 13 June 2023, 1pm to 2pm @ Richard Doll Lecture Theatre, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, OX3 7LF

Infectious Disease Seminar Series: 40 years of combating meningococcal disease: are we nearly there yet?

Monday, 19 June 2023, 1pm to 2pm @ BDI Seminar Room LG 0-1, Old Road Campus, Headington, OX3 7LF

Environmental sensing and it’s association with chronic disease

Tuesday, 11 July 2023, 11am to 12pm @ Big Data Institute LG 0 Seminar room