Reclusão feminina

: maternidade e nacionalidade

Abstract

National and international literature is scarce regarding women criminality (Matos, 2008). According to Moreira (2006) the number of foreign women has been increasing in the law and prisoner Portuguese system. Nevertheless, there are few studies about the effects of prison on mothers (Shamai & Kochal, 2008; Granja, Cunha & Machado, 2013b). The aim of this study is to understand how women live the maternity when they are in prison, what is the impact of maternity in the adaptation to that context. Is it lived the same way by national or foreign women? For that purpose, four in-depth interviews were carried out to two Portuguese and two foreign women that have children inside and outside the prison. These interviews were pursued according to a previously defined semi-structured interview protocol. Qualitative analysis was developed and it was concluded that children are central to these women especially to foreign women for whom they are the only support. For Portuguese women this support is given by family and friends so children are central to maintain the maternal links and feelings of resent and guilt.

Date of Award	11 Feb 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Raquel Matos (Supervisor)