The Strivings of Women Offenders in Alternative Domains -- Mother, Employee, Student, Partner

• In Event: The Experience of Motherhood for Women Who Break the Law: Alternative Perspectives

Abstract

In narrative identity theory, strivings promote identity change. This presentation examines the strivings of 400 women who became study participants when they were on probation on parole. Nearly all of them were asked about their strivings three times during one year, and 260 of them provided information about their personal strivings five times over six years. The study addresses the questions: What are the study participants striving to accomplish in order to improve their lives? In which of life’s domains – family life with children or partners, work, school, etc. – do they strive to do better? Are personal strivings related to parenting connected to outcomes such as mental health and desistance from crime?

Authors

• Merry Morash, Michigan State University

• Jennifer E. Cobbina, Michigan State University