Privilege & Oppression in OITNB

[NNEDV]

Kerman’s race, education, and socioeconomic status are noted – often – in the book as being different than the “average” inmate. She speculates that her sentence is shorter than it could have been due to these factors.

(112) Finn looked me up and down. “What the f*ck are you doing in here? We don’t see women like you much.”

How does racism and classism impact the experiences of Piper and the other inmates on the inside? And how does it impact the issues women face when re-entering society after leaving prison?

[Erica]

I think racism and classism significantly impact both the experiences of people while serving time and when attempting to re-enter society. The biases that come from both can make life much easier for some and much, much harder for others. Some of the guards were automatically nicer to her and thinking that they could relate to each other were based completely on their assumptions of her just by looking at her.

The privileges of a white woman whose family has some resources will make re-entry easier and more successful. Discrimination can keep people out of good apartments, certain neighborhoods, and decent-paying jobs - the factors that can help someone get back on their feet and not back behind bars.

[Allison]

I think classicism is playing the biggest role in re-entry and treatment by the guards here. Piper has many resources and supportive people on the outside while those in different classes have less. If Piper was in the situation of using the same resources available to those in a lesser class than hers, I don't think she would fare much better than they do. It did not seem like the guards treated the eminemlettes any better than anyone else and they were white I believe.