Agnes Goes to Prison: Sexual Assault and the Olympics of Gender Authenticity Among Transgender Inmates in California

4. Good Reasons to Study Transgender Inmates Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.

5. �Transgender� Enters the National Lexicon May 2007May 2007

6. Transgender People in Popular Culture

7. Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Growing awareness of transgender people in carceral settings 2008 California State Senate hearing: �Issues Facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Inmates in California Prisons� (see testimony available today!)

11. Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Growing awareness of transgender people in carceral settings 2008 California State Senate hearing: �Issues Facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Inmates in California Prisons� (see testimony available today!) High-profile court cases brought forth by transgender inmates Farmer v. Brennan (U.S. Supreme Court) Giraldo v. the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (San Francisco Superior Court)

14. Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Growing awareness of transgender people in carceral settings 2008 California State Senate hearing: �Issues Facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Inmates in California Prisons� High-profile court cases brought forth by transgender inmates Farmer v. Brennan Giraldo v. the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Legislative mandates (PREA, SADEA, and AB 382) Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.

17. Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Growing Awareness of transgender people in carceral settings 2008 California State Senate hearing: �Issues Facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Inmates in California Prisons� High-profile court cases brought forth by transgender inmates Farmer v. Brennan Giraldo v. the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Legislative mandates (PREA, SADEA, and AB 382 [pending]) High rates of sexual assault among transgender inmates (Jenness, Maxson, Matsuda and Sumner, 2007) found in CDCR-funded study. Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.

19. Acknowledgments Project Managers Kristy Matsuda Jennifer Sumner CDCR Bubpha Chen John Dovey Sharon English Nola Grannis Nancy Hardy Kimberly Kaufman Sandi Menefee Wendy Still Jeanne Woodford Wardens and other prison administrators and correctional officers at seven prisons from which data were collected Research Consultants Allen Beck Mark Fleisher Alexander L. Lee Merry Morash Andie Moss Stop Prisoner Rape Lovisa Stannow Lara Stemple UC Research Team/Consultants Victoria Basolo Lyndsay Boggess Philip Goodman Ryken Grattet John Hipp Lynn Pazzani Joan Petersilia Amelia Regan Michael Smyth Rebecca Trammell Susan Turner Sylvia Valenzuela Guadalupe Vidales Inmates Hundreds whose names will remain confidential

20. �The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staunchly supports the Prison Rape Elimination Act. We recognize the need for swift action. And I�ve made a commitment to a strategic planning process for complying with PREA. Not just because it�s the law, but because we have made a commitment to safe prisons and treating inmates humanely.� -- Roderick Hickman Secretary of the CDCR (when the PREA became law)

21. Major Findings Prevalence of Sexual Assault/Misconduct Characteristics of Victims Characteristics of Incidents The Lived Experience

23. Frequency of Victimization

24. Key Recommendations for Research Research on other incarcerated populations, such as women and juveniles. Additional research on transgender inmates, non-heterosexual inmates, inmates of color, inmates with mental health problems, and inmates that are small in stature.

25. Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Growing awareness of transgender people in carceral settings. 2008 California State Senate hearing: �Issues Facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Inmates in California Prisons� High-profile court cases brought forth by transgender inmates Farmer v. Brennan Giraldo v. the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Legislative mandates (PREA, SADEA, and AB 382 [pending]) High rates of sexual assault among transgender inmates (Jenness, Maxson, Matsuda and Sumner, 2007) found in CDCR-funded study Systematic, empirical examination of transgender inmates is lacking Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.

26. Growing awareness of transgender people in the U.S. Growing awareness of transgender people in carceral settings. 2008 California State Senate hearing: �Issues Facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Inmates in California Prisons� High-profile court cases brought forth by transgender inmates Farmer v. Brennan Giraldo v. the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Legislative mandates (PREA, SADEA, and AB 382 [pending]) High rates of sexual assault among transgender inmates (Jenness, Maxson, Matsuda and Sumner, 2007) found in CDCR-funded study Systematic, empirical examination of transgender inmates is lacking To learn about how �gender matters� in carceral environments. Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.Now that we have a better idea of what transgender means, let�s talk briefly about why people should study transgender inmates (and why we did). [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we are going to focus on the last two reasons.

30. Scope Conditions Target Populations All transgender inmates residing in California state prisons, including �ad seg� and SHU units Note: EOP is included English- and Spanish-speaking inmates

31. Central Questions What are the demographic characteristics of transgender inmates? In what types of physical, social, and intimate environments are transgender inmates housed? What is the overall prevalence of physical and sexual victimization for transgender inmates? How does victimization vary in accordance with the demographic characteristics of inmates? How does it vary with the physical, social, and intimate features of their housing environments? [On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we�ll be focusing on two of these research questions (first and third).[On click] for the purposes of this presentation, we�ll be focusing on two of these research questions (first and third).

34. Defining and Describing �Transgender� A clear, simple criteria to identify our target population Do you identify as transgender? Do you present yourself as female/feminine/transgender? Are you currently taking female hormones? Do you attend a transgender support group? Establishing a common meaning for all respondents [during the interview] �Knowing that different people use different terms for things, I want to clarify that, during this interview, when I talk about transgender inmates, I am referring to those inmates who identify or present as female in men�s prisons.� Before we go any further, I think it�s important to let you all know what I mean when I use the word �transgender�--who I am referring to. We�ve seen that different groups have different definitions of the term (all of which can get a little overwhelming), but [start with first bullet]Before we go any further, I think it�s important to let you all know what I mean when I use the word �transgender�--who I am referring to. We�ve seen that different groups have different definitions of the term (all of which can get a little overwhelming), but [start with first bullet]

36. Identifying Transgender Inmates Refer back to the three questions that we asked (eligibility criteria) to whittle the number from 505 to 332. Do you identify as transgender? Are you taking hormones? Do you attend a transgender support group? Once we had completed these 315 interviews, we were ready to analyze our data.Refer back to the three questions that we asked (eligibility criteria) to whittle the number from 505 to 332. Do you identify as transgender? Are you taking hormones? Do you attend a transgender support group? Once we had completed these 315 interviews, we were ready to analyze our data.

38. Summary of Data Collection 9 weeks 8 interviewers 27 prisons 315 face-to-face interviews (95% participation rate) Interviews could consist of as many as 305 questions Interviews averaged 56 minutes

40. Project Design � Official CDCR Data CDC#, LifeNo Name Race/Ethnicity Sex Birthday Height Weight Earliest Parole Release Date Projected Release Date Sentence Primary Institution Location Secondary Institution Location Offense Category Sex Registration Mental Health Treatment Need Classification Score Classification Level Sentence Type Gang Affiliation Gang Verification Age at First Arrest Age at Admission Highest strike count Lifer Movement Effective Date Birthplace Admission Date (arrived at CDCR for first conviction under CDCR#) Movement Type Release Date Current Location Cell Bed Administrative Determinant Immigration Hold Commitment Type (Felony, Narcotics, etc.)

41. Major Findings Demographic Profile Aggregate Prevalence Rate Prevalence by Characteristics of Transgender Inmates Prevalence by Characteristics of Prisons Prevalence by Housing Assignments Prevalence by Social-Interactional Factors (i.e., Lived Experiences in Prison) Beyond Prevalence: Further Considerations

43. 1. Demographic Profile

44. FIRST PUBLICATION (available today): �Where the Margins Meet: A Demographic Assessment of Transgender Inmates in Men�s Prisons,� Lori Sexton, Valerie Jenness, and Jennifer Sumner. Justice Quarterly. In Press.

45. Variation Within the Transgender Inmate Population Diversity exists with regard to: Gender identity Preferred gender identity label Sexual Orientation Sexual Attractions Gender Presentation Female presentation before incarceration Plans to present as female upon release from prison

50. Continuity of Female Presentation

51. Continuity of Female Presentation

52. 2. Aggregate Prevalence

53. Prevalence of Inmate-on-Inmate Sexual Assault for Transgender Inmates Sexual assault: �Have you ever had to do sexual things against your will with another inmate?� �Just to be sure, have any of the following things ever happened to you: groping or fondling, kissing, genital contact, oral sex or penetration against your will?� Prevalence: 23.8% in current housing unit 58.5% during entire incarceration history (while presenting as female) 41.7% prevalence of sexual assault outside of prison (while presenting as female)

54. Prevalence of Inmate-on-Inmate Sexual Assault/Misconduct When you expand assault to include sexual misconduct, the numbers grow Sexual misconduct: �What about things that were perhaps not against your will, but that you would rather not have done?� Prevalence: 34.6% in current housing unit 69.4% during entire incarceration history (while presenting as female) 62.4% prevalence of sexual assault/misconduct outside of prison (while presenting as female)

55. Prevalence of Staff-on-Inmate Sexual Assault and Assault by a Police Officer Correctional staff 0.6% in current housing unit 13.6% during entire incarceration history (while presenting as female) Assault by a law enforcement officer outside of prison 15.2% (while presenting as female)

56. Transgender Inmates Experience More Sexual Victimization than Male Inmates

57. 2. Predictors of Prevalence

58. 58 First, we began by modeling sexual victimization using many common individual-level characteristics (similar to other studies of sexual victimization). As you can see, most of the individual-level characteristics are NOT statistically significant. The two exceptions are race (with Hispanics less likely to be victimized) and our exposure variable, time in current housing unit (with greater lengths of time associated with a higher likelihood of sexual victimization). **NO SLIDE**First, we began by modeling sexual victimization using many common individual-level characteristics (similar to other studies of sexual victimization). As you can see, most of the individual-level characteristics are NOT statistically significant. The two exceptions are race (with Hispanics less likely to be victimized) and our exposure variable, time in current housing unit (with greater lengths of time associated with a higher likelihood of sexual victimization). **NO SLIDE**

59. 59 Next, we included prison-level characteristics--both common and those that were unique to our study. Interestingly, not a single one of these variables was significant. **NO SLIDE**Next, we included prison-level characteristics--both common and those that were unique to our study. Interestingly, not a single one of these variables was significant. **NO SLIDE**

60. 60 From that point, we used housing-unit level characteristics to predict sexual victimization (a level of analysis seldom seen in other studies). The only significant relationship here is whether the inmate was in a group unit (a dorm or gym) or a single- or double-cell. **NO SLIDE**From that point, we used housing-unit level characteristics to predict sexual victimization (a level of analysis seldom seen in other studies). The only significant relationship here is whether the inmate was in a group unit (a dorm or gym) or a single- or double-cell. **NO SLIDE**

61. 61 Now here is where our predictors diverge most notably from previous studies: the social interactional characteristics of the environment. As you can see, many of our predictors were not significant--but some were. Larger numbers of transgender inmates in the same housing unit and feelings that their transgender friends cared about them were associated with a lower likelihood of victimization. **NO SLIDE**Now here is where our predictors diverge most notably from previous studies: the social interactional characteristics of the environment. As you can see, many of our predictors were not significant--but some were. Larger numbers of transgender inmates in the same housing unit and feelings that their transgender friends cared about them were associated with a lower likelihood of victimization. **NO SLIDE**

63. 63 � and here is what we call the �intimate� characteristics of the environment. Both of these variables were sgnificantly associated with a greater likelihood of sexual victiization. There ended up being (predictably) almost perfect multicollinearity between these two variables, so �marriage-like relationship� was dropped in subsequent analyses. **NO SLIDE**� and here is what we call the �intimate� characteristics of the environment. Both of these variables were sgnificantly associated with a greater likelihood of sexual victiization. There ended up being (predictably) almost perfect multicollinearity between these two variables, so �marriage-like relationship� was dropped in subsequent analyses. **NO SLIDE**

64. 64 As you can see, most of the variables that were significant in the partial models remained significant, at least for one type of victimization, in the full model. Interestingly, though, time in current housing unit is NONsignificant in the full model--indicating that the variation in victimization explained by the exposure variable in the partial model was absorbed by other variables once introduced. This is interesting because, quite logically, exposure measured in time is one of the most consistent predictors of sexual victimization across previous studies. **NO SLIDE**As you can see, most of the variables that were significant in the partial models remained significant, at least for one type of victimization, in the full model. Interestingly, though, time in current housing unit is NONsignificant in the full model--indicating that the variation in victimization explained by the exposure variable in the partial model was absorbed by other variables once introduced. This is interesting because, quite logically, exposure measured in time is one of the most consistent predictors of sexual victimization across previous studies. **NO SLIDE**

65. 65 Here are the same findings, but with effect size shown. Notice that the largest effect sizes are seen for �group housing unit� (for sexual assault only) and whether the inmate is in a sexual relationship (both types of victimization). **NO SLIDE**Here are the same findings, but with effect size shown. Notice that the largest effect sizes are seen for �group housing unit� (for sexual assault only) and whether the inmate is in a sexual relationship (both types of victimization). **NO SLIDE**

67. 3. �The Olympics of Gender Authenticity� Among Transgender Inmates in California Prisons

68. �Clocked� in an alpha male community �In prison, there�s no passing because I�m in here and I�m already clocked.� -- A Hispanic transgender inmate in level 4 prison �Prison is an alpha male community. It�s run by alpha males. So, we�re perceived as punks�just women. No one is going to come up to me and give me the respect they give my old man. They see me as his property. And I guess I am. We�re seen as weak�a lower species. In a sense we are. But, people should not be taken in by the illusion. Don�t forget: we�re men. We�re just trying to get by in an alpha male community. You women�you are a woman�you have it easy. I don�t have it easy, but I have it easier while being in prison.� -- A Hispanic transgender inmate in a level 4 prison

69. The Olympics of Gender Authenticity A dynamic related to how gender is accomplished by �the girls among men,� to quote how transgender inmates in prison describe themselves. Specifically, among transgender inmates in prisons for men, there is: a recognition of standing as �male� a palpable and well-articulated desire to secure standing as a �real girl� or �the best girl� in a sex-segregated institutional environment; a commitment to �acting like a lady� to earn respect and special treatment from other inmates; a competition for the attention and affection of �real men� in prison as a measure of gender status; and a commitment to displaying markers of gender that can best be described as a Victorian. The situated accomplishment of gender and violence in men�s prison.

70. The recognition of standing as male� �I was born a man. I would never deny god�s work.� A Hispanic transgender inmate who considers periodic stays in prison the price of running drugs. �I know I�m not a girl; I was born a boy. But I have tendencies as a girl.� An African American transgender prisoner who lived as a woman on the streets in LA and worked as a prostitute for over 20 years �I�m 40 D. Not many like that in here. And, I have a big ass, we call it booty. I don�t mind being on a yard with other transgenders because they can�t match this. And, the hormones shrink your dick and I don�t have any testicles. I had them cut off when I was a teenager�. When you�re in prison, everyone knows who you are�a man�it�s not a big secret. Or, at least they think they know who you are. I�m a man. I�m not confused. I�m not a woman. I know I don�t bleed, I can�t produce children, I don�t have a pussy, I have breasts because I grew them with hormones. It�s not like you. I just assume your breasts are natural. Anyone who says �I�m just like you� is full of shit. C�mon. We�re women, but not like you. You know the difference, I know the difference, and they know the difference. There�s a lot of lying bullshit going on in here, but no more than on the street. Those bitches on the street lie, too.� An African American transgender inmate who reported removing her own male genitals and being on hormones to enhance her feminine appearance since her teen years.

71. The desire to be a real girl� An interviewee asked me if I was a �real girl� and when I said �yes� she smiled and said �oh, that must be nice.� �Val, you�re a biologic, right? [note: earlier she explained that being a biologic means being born biologically female] After I said �yes,� she said �I figured. We have the utmost respect for biologics. You are perfection. I am memorex. You are what I can never attain. But, like all good memorexes, I try to get close.�Always a copy. Never the real deal. But a damn good copy. People can�t tell the difference between the real deal and a damn good copy. You�re real. I�ll never be the same. Do you know Lt. Commander Data looks human and acts human, but will never be human. He�s an android, not a human. It�s kind of the same.� An outspoken White transgender inmate in a long-term prison marriage while serving a life sentence; self-identifies as �tg ring leader� who �takes care of the girls around here� When asked about getting respect and being transgender: �They [respect me because they] see that I�m all the way out�that I�m the real deal. I�m going all the way. I�m hoping to have surgery. I�m not a tg, I�m a woman. I have my breasts from hormones. I�m the real deal. I want Marcy Bowers [well known surgeon in Colorado who is on tv and is a MTF transgender herself] to do the surgery].� A Hispanic transgender inmate with a long history in sex work and with drug addiction and imprisonment

72. The importance of acting like a lady� �Act Like a Lady� poster above the toilet in an African American transgender inmate�s cell in a reception center. VJ: Does appearing more feminine get you respect from other (non tg) inmates? �Yes.� VJ: Why? �They give me a different pardon. If I�m going in line to chow, it�s likely someone will let me go first.� VJ: What exactly is a special pardon? �A pardon is a special consideration. That�s what makes me feel respected. It�s tasteful, especially if it comes from a regular guy. That�s him telling me that I�m carrying myself like a lady. It�s about being treated like a lady and made to feel like a lady. That special pardon. The more you get special pardons, the more you are being treated like a lady.� �I am a man, but I choose to look like a woman and I want to be treated like a woman. That�s what makes me transgender. I recently had an argument with my cellie and he told me to put my shoes on, which means to fight. I wouldn�t put them on. I wouldn�t fight.� VJ: So women don�t fight? �Right.� VJ: What else makes you feel treated like a woman? �All the courtesies a man would afford a woman, like my trays are cleared by my cellie�he takes my tray in chow line.�

74. On competition among the ladies�. VJ: Would you prefer more transgender inmates in your housing unit? �I�m not sure. Fewer, I guess. Right now all eyes are on me. I mean, I�m pretty and I intimidate them. I�ve got this [frames face] and these [cusps small breasts]. Girls want these, I got them. I have a whole waiting list of folks [in here] who want me�people don�t care that I�m HIV cuz I�m pretty and I know how to please men. At [name of prison], I�m the hottest thing. They [other transgender inmates] say I�m cute. I�m pretty. But deep down inside they�re jealous. Still, I love tgs�that�s why I became one.� -- An African American transgender inmate from another state who self-identifies as a �crack whore on the street� VJ: How often have you felt pressure from other inmates to do sexual things against your will? �Yes, they flirt, but it�s not pressure. That�s just play. They know what kind of person I am�monogamous. I don�t behave like slut. Most of the other girls do, but I don�t. I respect myself too much. [I] don�t want to live with other tgs�it�s like too many women in the kitchen. It sounds so selfish, but less tg inmates is better; like I said, too many women in the kitchen. Too much promiscuity. I want a relationship that is monogamous. Some of the girls, I don�t respect. They are more promiscuous. They are nasty. Skanky. They are. I�m not like that.� -- An HIV positive African American transgender inmate who just broke up with her cellmate/institutional husband and has �a gentleman on the street who is waiting for me.�

75. On competition among the ladies�. VJ: Does appearing more feminine get you respect from other transgender inmates? �I�m not sure. Sometimes it�s jealousy, competition. If people compete with me that means they respect me enough to treat me as a girl�and they compete.� A transgender inmate who is a lifer and has served over 20 years in over 10 different prisons �Some respect you a lot; some are angered because you do better than they�you look better; some are angry because you�re not normal. Lots goes on when you�re trying to be fem. It�s fun, dangerous, and it�s real. All girls learn from other girls. Tgs learn from other tgs. It�s a way of learning to do things better, to be better women.� -- An older, white, transgender inmate who reports �my morals have come a long way.� �No, they�re jealous. It�s like a beauty pageant. You�re all here and seemingly getting along. But not really. Really it�s a competition. They smile to your face, but not sincerely. There�s only one winner and maybe runner-up.� -- A young Hispanic transgender inmate who has been living as a female since age 14, went on hormones at age 15, and came to prison at 18 to serve a lengthy sentence (over two decades)

76. On the importance of getting attention from men�. VJ: Would you prefer more trangender inmates in your housing unit? �We call them [other transgender inmates] bitches, but with affection. Because the straights will try to hit on them as much. It�s odd. You want friends, but you don�t� want the hassle, the drama that comes with them. I�m torn. I want them around, but I don�t want them around. It�s good and bad.� -- A Hispanic, bisexual transgender inmate who desires to be �normal� after leaving prison �We [my husband in prison and I] clicked and we have a lot in common. He�s very supportive of me. Because I�m on a HIV regime he does nice things for me.� VJ: Like what? �Well, like hold my hair when I vomit in the cell and not get mad at me.� -- A white transgender inmate who has been in and out of prison many times and reports struggling with drug addiction �I was going into chow and a couple of other inmates grabbed my ass and told me how sweet it is. They are males who are here and want sex. It�s like a guy who goes to the strip club. I�m the entertainment and the meat. I wasn�t offended. Those kinds of comments and gropes�I find it complimentary at my age. I�m [over 50]. I�m glad I can still draw the attention.� -- A white transgender inmate who has served over 20 years of a life sentence in more than 10 prisons. VJ: what is the best way for transgender inmates to avoid being victimized? �Get someone to protect you. He�ll take you under his wing. He�ll become protective of you�like men do with women.� -- A white transgender inmate who worked as a marketing researcher and as a plumber outside of prison

77. On the importance of getting attention from men�. �That officer showed you respect when he offered to bring me lunch so you could do this interview. He would never do that for me. He respects you.� -- An Hispanic inmate who agreed to be interviewed during lunch, even if it meant missing lunch.

78. On the perceived connection between acting like a lady and violence� VJ: How do transgender inmates get respect? �Act like a lady.� VJ: Why does acting like a lady in a men�s prison get you respect? �If a man is a gentleman and they see a queen act that way, it�s important for him to trust you because you�re showing self-confidence in an environment that is crazy. That�s why queens don�t get hurt. You being a lady is like a gold credit card.� VJ: How do you avoid being victimized? �I try not to associate with straight people, especially really straight people. Really straight guys get really mad when they are with us. They want us, but they really want to be with real girls. I don�t know if this makes sense to you because you�re a real girl. Does it? They think of us as the worst thing. What gets them mad is that we�re not real women. The more you can be a real woman, the more they might not get mad.� VJ: Are there situations in which violence between inmates is necessary? �Gang bangers come in here and say something�like �hey half dead (to HIVs)� or �you�re dying anyway.� With me, if it becomes too much I put my purse down and fight. I�ll let that part of me come out.� VJ: What part is that? �The non-lady like. The ugly side of me.� VJ: Do you have any final comments? �If you can make it in here, you can make it anywhere. Who said that? A star? It�s true. We�re surrounded by men, real men, with short fuses. It�s not easy. It�s worse than being on the street. Here they are locked up and they don�t have women, even women they can buy. We�re the best they got and they hate that.�

79. More on how �gender matters��.SECOND PUBLICATION (available today):  �From Policy to Prisoners to People: A �Soft-Mixed Methods� Approach to Studying Transgender Prisoners,� Valerie Jenness Journal of Contemporary Ethnography. In Press.THIRD PUBLICATION�Getting to Know �The Girls� in an �Alpha-Male Community�: Notes on Fieldwork on Transgender Inmates in California Prisons,� Valerie Jenness. In Sociologists Backstage: Answers to 10 Questions About What They Do, edited by Sarah Fenstermaker and Nikki Jones. New York: Routledge Press. In Press.

81. Comparing average perceived femininity Mean femininity score before incarceration = 4.03 Mean femininity score during incarceration = 4.22 P < .001 Correlation between femininity before and during incarceration: r = .546 (p < .001)

83. Expressed Preference for Living in a Men�s Prison v. a Women�s Prison The majority of transgender inmates expressed a preference to be housed in a men�s prison rather than a women�s prison Preference for men�s prison: 64.9% Preference for women�s prison: 35.1% The preference was often expressed with accompanying comments about the advantages of being in a men�s prison, especially the access to men �Oh no, not a women�s prison! I would die. I want to be around men. I like that song �it�s raining men.� It would be safer in a women�s prison, but�.�

87. On having juice and getting soap�. VJ: Well, what about sexual things that were perhaps not against your will, but you would have rather not done? �I performed oral sex on another inmate for money, something my cellmate and family couldn�t provide. A lot of guys watch me, want me, pay me for oral sex.� VJ: What do you think this is about? �Getting money to get things from the canteen. I�m a tg so I�m not going to use regular soap. I like things that pamper my skin. I want a razor that doesn�t cut my legs�with me being HIV positive, it shouldn�t cut my legs. I need double edged blades; they only give you single edged blades. I wish they allowed us the basics so we don�t have to blow guys. We don�t want to suck dick all the time. I do it when I�m running out of what I need�shampoo, lotion, hygiene stuff. I do one whack [blow job]. It has to be worthwhile. My other half�my cellmate, partner, husband, whatever you call him�has to understand I needed it in the household. He can�t provide it for me, so I have to provide it for myself. Ideally, he should provide it. But, he can�t. And I need it, ya know.� -- A white transgender inmate who has been in and out of prison many times and reports struggling with drug addiction

88. Contact Information Valerie Jenness, Ph.D. Department of Criminology, Law & Society University of California Irvine, California 92697-7080 Tel: (949) 824-3017 Fax: (949) 824-3001 E-mail: jenness@uci.edu