Piper Kerman´s Orange Is The New Black: A Summary and Discussion Among Female Offenders

This is the story of Piper Kerman, and how her personal story from being in prison relates to that of other female offenders. Kerman came from a well educated family, who were mostly doctors, lawyers, or teachers.“Much to the skepticism of my father and grandfather,” she writes, Kerman had majored in theater (Kerman, p. 4), and graduated from Smith College in New England. After college, her classmates and friends were going off to their graduate school programs or new jobs. Kerman, however, decided to stay in Massachusetts. She felt unmotivated pursuing a career in theater, and did not have an interest in truly continuing on with her education. Furthermore, she also felt that she did not have a “meaningful career” (Kerman, p. 4). Kerman wanted to be an independent woman and experience, experiment, and live her own life. She got an apartment with a fellow student, and started “waiting tables at a microbrewery” (Kerman, p. 5). She fell into the habit of partying, which for Kerman, was the beginning of a lifestyle that would eventually lead to something far bigger and more dangerous than she had ever imagined - and one which ultimately led to her conviction. In 2003, Kerman pled guilty to charges of money laundering and drug trafficking.

In the early 1990's, Kerman began a relationship with Nora Jansen. She was attracted to her because she felt that Nora had a way of “drawing a person out” (Kerman, p. 6). Kerman also felt that Nora was the only one who paid attention to her. Nora disappeared “in the fall of 1992,” and then “reappeared after Christmas (Kerman, p.6). Nora appeared to be living a very lavish lifestyle, and threw money around in such a way that it always got her attention. Eventually, after reuniting, she asked Kerm...

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...ans you!” (Kerman, p. 128). She states that “there was a constant dance between the prisoners and the staff around the rules” (Kerman, p. 128).

By giving women access to the same educational materials that they offer to men, it gives them a chance to either learn a trade or give them the option to get their High School Diplomas/GED's if they do not already have them. Providing effective psychiatric treatment by knowledgeable and ethical professionals, and counseling if needed to address any personal issues or problems they may be facing, these female inmates are much better prepared to become more productive members of society.

References:

Kerman, P. (2010). Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison. New York: Spiegel & Grau

Belknap, J. (2007). The Invisible Woman: Gender, Crime, and Justice. (3rd Ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.