13 Women: Parables from Prison

by Karlene Faith (Editor), Anne Near (Primary Contributor)

However their stories differ in the details, all of the women in this book speak about their time in prison with eloquence and admirable candor. Some have spent most of their lives behind bars; for others, prison was a one-time experience. Most were incarcerated for offences related to drugs and theft. Several were involved in violent crimes. Three — Betty Krawczyk, Ann Hansen, and Christine Lamont — did time for political activities that received international media attention. Their stories belie any stereotype about the type of woman who ends up in jail. Each account is a parable of life’s fragility, a cautionary tale of how easily anyone can meet with harm or be led astray. While relaying stories of courage, resiliency, and hope, the editors raise provocative questions about personal accountability, the meaning of justice, the state’s uses and abuses of power, and the broad social challenges women face.

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

A human rights activist for five decades, Karlene Faith is Canada's leading feminist sociologist on prisons. Her seminal book, Unruly Women, raised many crucial questions that define the prison reform movements of today. Co-founder of the revolutionary Santa Cruz Women’s Prison Project in 1972, and author of many books on criminology and women’s studies, Faith is currently professor emerita at Simon Fraser University’s School of Criminology.

Reviews

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve parables are about individual women, one parable is about indigenous women in Canada. Karlene Faith provides an introduction to each person, and then most follow with an account from interviews with or writings of incarcerated women in California in the 1970s and in Canada more recently. Faith then reflects on the woman's experiences at the end of each parable. The accounts are very engaging and the incarcerated women and Faith's analyses are apt. The selection of parables is kind of strange, as most accounts are from white women, even though the prison population does not reflect these choices.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I really took my time with this one. There's just something about the solidarity between women who have reached the bottom that speaks of the strength that can be found in weakness. Something else that stood out to me was the power of literacy. Almost all of these women clung tightly to reading and writing to cope and many of these stories are victories. Recommend to anyone interested in womens studies, equality or just interested in prison culture.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearing the stories from all walks of women's prison life was amazing. Some have a real talent to tell a story, some of been telling it for so long that it is engrained in theor lives forever.

An awesome set of short stories by women in prison for a variety of reasons.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories of 13 women all incarcerated in California for a variety of crimes. One of the authors is a Leslie van Houten supporter, which really intrigues me. Interesting read, overall!

[L A · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good. Women's studies lit at it's finest.

[Shamana Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories that need to be told. When we as a society punish people, do we look at who we are producing and letting out back into the streets after their time is served?

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've recommended this book because it is important for others to understand how messed up our "justice system" is, a reflection of our society.