For dear life : women's decriminalization and human rights in focus / Carol Jacobsen ; foreword by Lucy R. Lippard ; with essays by Amanda Alexander [and 15 others] ; with letters, narrations, and contributions by anonymous [and 58 others].
Publisher:
University of Michigan Press,
Copyright Date:
2019
Description:
xiii, 198 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm
"January 2019"--Title page verso. Includes bibliographical references and filmography.
Contents:
Freedom Days. Regina Austin -- Introduction / Carol Jacobsen -- Epilogue: From One Prison... From One Prison...(1992-95) -- Essay: "Life Sentences : The Plight of Women Inmates" / Sidonie Smith and Kay Schaffer -- Violet and Judith (1995) -- Essay: "Battered Women's Clemency Project Issues Call for Justice" / Lynn D'Orio -- 2. Protests and Prostitutes' Rights -- Prostitutes' Rights (1985-2019) -- Essay: "Feminist Fundamentalism : women against images" / Carole S. Vance -- Essay: "A Public University's Response to Students' Censorship of an Art Exhibit" / Marjorie Heins -- Censorious (2005) -- Courtroom (2019) -- 3. Clemency -- Clemency (1992-99) -- Essay: "Representing Incarcerated Parents" / Amanda Alexander and Caitlin Mitchell -- 3 on a Life Sentence (1998) -- Essay: "3 on a Life Sentence" / Maryann Wilkinson -- 4. Segregation Unit -- Segregation Unit (1999-2000) -- Essay: "As a Human Being, Answer Me! : Jamie Whitcomb's Solitary Demand" / Ruby Tapia -- 5. Sentenced -- Sentenced : Beyond the Fence (2001-4) -- Essay: "Sentenced" / Nina Felshin -- Essay: "Carol Jacobsen : Women's Voices from Behind the Fence" / Sally Berger -- 6. Conviction -- Prison Diary (2004-6) -- Essay: "Prison Diary" / Rebecca Jordan-Young -- Conviction (2004-6) -- Essay: "Conviction" / Wendy Kozol -- 7. Files on the History of Justifiable Homicide -- Justifiable Homicide (2005-12) -- Essay: "Files on the History of Justifiable Homicide" / Betti-Sue Hertz -- Nightclub Girl in a Curfew Town (2012) -- Our First Clemencies (2008-10) -- 8. Mistrials -- Mistrial (2008-11) -- Essay: "Framed/Reframed/Framing : Time Like Zeros" / Patricia Zimmerman -- 9. Life on Trial -- Life on Trial (2012-18) -- Essay: "The Mistrial of Stacy Barker" / Regina Austin -- For Dear Life (2013-17) -- Epilogue: Freedom Days.
Summary:
"For Dear Life chronicles feminist and artist Carol Jacobsen's deep commitment to the causes of justice and human rights, and focuses a critical lens on an American criminal-legal regime that imparts racist, gendered, and classist modes of punishment to women lawbreakers. Jacobsen's tireless work with and for women prisoners is charted in this rich assemblage of images and texts that reveal the collective strategies she and the prisoners have employed to receive justice. The book gives evidence that women's lawbreaking is often an effort to survive gender-based violence. The faces, letters, and testimonies of dozens of incarcerated women with whom Jacobsen has worked present a visceral yet politicized chorus of voices against the criminal-legal systems that fail us all. Their voices are joined by those of leading feminist scholars in essays that illuminate the arduous methods of dissent that Jacobsen and the others have employed to win freedom for more than a dozen women sentenced to life imprisonment, and to free many more from torturous prison conditions. The book is a document to Jacobsen's love and lifelong commitment to creating feminist justice and freedom, and to the efficacy of her artistic, legal, and extralegal political actions on behalf of women. For Dear Life will appeal to scholars in gender studies, criminal justice, art and cinema studies, as well as to activists, lawyers, social workers, prisoners, former prisoners and survivors."--Page 4 of cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.