Human development in punitive contexts? A socio-educational analysis from the point of view of social vulnerabilities and gender

Abstract

The objective consists of analyzing the diverse life conditions and realities of women in a punitive context of special social vulnerability from the socio-educational and gender perspective, with human development seen as the reference frame serving as the ground for improvement proposals in favor of the exercise of human rights. It is framed within a research developed across the Spanish territory, with a 3 sample of 538 women prisoners (17% of the total female prison population), to whom mixed questionnaires were applied while employing qualitative and quantitative research methods. Specifically, results making part of the indicators assessed within the construct of human development, i.e.: education, health and drug addiction, and labor and economic situation as well as those relating to the personal, family and social paths or professional careers of these women both prior to conviction and at the time of their reclusion. It becomes evident in the results that the different factors associated to human development do indeed influence and condition the enormous vulnerability of this population. Likewise, the weaknesses and gaps or blanks found in the paradigm of human development are manifest as well as the indices internationally applied by turning a blind eye to the features and peculiarities of specific vulnerable groups in each context, like prison population. And all of this undertaken for the purpose of laying the foundations for a socio-educational intervention and concerning the adoption of stands regarding the related social policies.