The social construction of love and sexuality in a women's prison

Incarcerated women have numerous physical, social, and emotional health car e needs, including specific needs related to their expressions of sexuality while in prison. This report describes the results of a participatory acti on research study with incarcerated women utilizing critical hermeneutic da ta analysis techniques. while the public's view of sexuality between incarc erated women borders on the prurient and profane, this study suggests that women in prison continue to be sexual beings who come to "participate" in l ove and sex with one another based on their need for relationship and frien dship. it is suggested that prison bureaucracies define women through a sex ual lens, dually grounding their identities in the crimes they were sent to prison for and the perceived crimes of their sexuality. The need for nursi ng involvement and intervention with this marginalized and stigmatized popu lation is discussed.