The Lived Experience of a Transgender Individual Incarcerated in a Canadian Men’s Correctional Institution

• In Event: Roundtable: Transgender People Involved with Carceral Systems: International Perspectives

Abstract

In Canada, the prevalence of transgender individuals who are incarcerated is currently unknown. However, advocates argue that they appear to be a growing population within the prison system. In order for correctional staff to better manage and support this unique and vulnerable population, they must first identify and understand their experience. There is minimal data on the experience of incarcerated transgender individuals. This study which looks to expand this knowledge base, takes a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Interviews were conducted with seven self-identified transgender persons who had previously been incarcerated. The narrative provided by the participants identified two essential themes: crushing fear and lack of acceptance of their transgender identity. Feelings of fear included fear of sexual harassment, sexual and physical assault, fear of being used a sexual pawn and, in one instance, fear of discovery of their transgender identity. In relation to lack of acceptance of their transgender identity, participants were denied the option of being placed in women’s institution, despite openly identifying as transgender. Some participants were placed on special needs units where they were strip searched like they were men, not identified by the proper pronoun and name and were not provided gender-appropriate clothing and grooming products.

Author

• Lee Vandenbroeck, Correctional Service Canada