«Partilhamos tudo o que podemos»: a dualização do corpo recluso nos romances através das grades

Megan Comfort *

Manter uma relação com um prisioneiro é um desafio às convenções ocidentais contemporâneas acerca dos ingredientes do envolvimento romântico. A gestão punitiva, a interdição e a vigilância características da prisão tornam estas ligações casos extremos de controlo da vida íntima. São utilizados dados de uma etnografia realizada na sala de espera dos visitantes da prisão de San Quentin e de entrevistas a mulheres com companheiros detidos para distinguir quatro interacções específicas entre os casais durante o encarceramento do homem. Através do seu esforço para «estar junto» e apoiar o ente amado, as mulheres transportam o seu ambiente doméstico para o estabelecimento prisional, permitindo que uma série de penalizações — estigma, censura, invasão de privacidade, regras, limitação espacial e regime temporal — se reflicta no interior do lar. Entendendo o conceito de «prisionização» de D. Clemmer como a socialização nas normas prisionais, este trabalho sustenta que, mesmo não estando fisicamente no estabelecimento prisional, as mulheres são sujeitas à «prisão secundária» por via da gestão e regulamentação institucional, uma vez que os métodos para se manterem em contacto com um companheiro implicam a cedência da sua esfera privada, tornando-a uma extensão do controlo penal.

Palavras-chave: prisão; género; namoro; alta segurança; reclusão; corpo.

«Nous partageons tout ce que nous pouvons»: la dualisation du corps des reclus dans les romans à travers les barreaux

Maintenir des rapports avec un prisonnier constitue un défi aux conventions occidentales contemporaines en termes d'ingrédients de l'engagement romantique. La gestion punitive, l'interdiction et la surveillance caractéristiques de la prison transforment ces liaisons en cas extrêmes de contrôle de la vie intime. L'article utilise les données d'une étude ethnographique réalisée dans la salle d'attente des visiteuses de la prison de San Quentin et d'interviews faits à des femmes dont les compagnons sont détenus, pour distinguer quatre interactions spécifiques entre les couples durant l'emprisonnement de l'homme. En raison de leur effort pour «être ensemble» et soutenir l'être aimé, les femmes transportent leur environnement domestique dans la prison et font ainsi en sorte qu'une série de pénalisations — stigmatisation, censure, invasion de la vie privée, règles, limite spatiale et régime temporel — se retrouvent dans leur foyer. En entendant le concept de «prisionisation» de D. Clemmer comme étant la socialisation dans les normes de la prison, ce travail soutient que, même si elles sont physiquement absentes de l'établissement, les femmes sont sujettes à la «prisionisation secondaire» par la voie de la gestion et de la réglementation institutionnelle, puisque les méthodes qui leur permettent de rester en contact avec leur compagnon impliquent une cession de leur sphère privée, qui devient une extension du contrôle pénal.

Mots-clé: prison; genre; prisionisation; haute sécurité; réclusion; corps.

«We share everything we can»: the dualization of the confined body in romances through prison bars

Keeping up a relationship with a prisoner is a challenge to modern western conventions on what constitutes romantic involvement. The punitive supervision, prohibition and surveillance characteristic of prison life render such liaisons extreme examples of control over personal life. This study uses data from ethnographic work carried out in the visitors' waiting room of San Quentin prison and from interviews of women whose partners are in jail to identify four specific types of interaction between couples during the time the man is incarcerated. Through their efforts to «be together» and support their loved ones, women take their domestic environment to the prison so that a series of punishments — stigma, blame, invasion of privacy, rules, spatial limitations and time restrictions — are reflected in the home. Interpreting D. Clemmer's concept of «prisonization» as the socialization of prison norms, this study argues that, even if they are not physically present in the prison, women are subject to «secondary imprisonment» by way of institutional control and regulation, given that the methods they use to keep in contact with their partner involve giving up their private sphere and turning it into an extension of penal control.

Keywords: prison; gender; courtship; high security; imprisonment.

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*Universidade da Califórnia, São Francisco.