I loved this post today on Feministing from Misty Rojo, formerly a prison inmate, discussing the unfortunate fact that most vocational programs available to women in prison teach cosmetology or sewing, but not more "male oriented" work like welding, construction or autobody.
"Even in Hobby Craft, we can knit to our hearts content (yuck), but can’t woodwork or leather tool," she writes. "So many of us reentering the community can file your nails or knit you some booties, but can’t get your car started or build your house."
When I read this I couldn’t help but think about the amazing story of Sharan Mitchell, who was a resident at one of our Grantee Partners, Friends of Guest House, when she got out of prison, and during her time there participated in a 12-week female construction training program through the YWCA of the National Capital Region (another Grantee Partner).
Today, she’s helping build baseball stadiums, she’s saving money and her life is on track.
She’s just one of many arguments for providing more training in skills that lead to meaningful employment and careers for women once they leave prison. Cosmetology traditionally pays far less than fields considered more appropriate for men–such as construction or car repair.
That’s why The Women’s Foundation is supporting programs that put low-income women from throughout our region in these higher paying jobs–so that they can support their children, have health insurance, eventually buy homes and have a stable financial future.
No one needs this kind of promise more than a woman leaving prison and trying to start her life over. I can’t really say it any better than a woman writing on Friends of Guest House’s blog–written by the women at the house about their experiences transitioning into their new lives.
When asked what she would tell someone creating programs for women in prison, she says, "It would be great if they had programs that teach skills, but I know that costs money…What I saw in jail was that the women had no skill sets to provide them with decent jobs on the outside which would allow them to provide for themselves and their children. Therefore, they went back to lives of crime, drug use and depending on the government (such as welfare). Giving someone the opportunity to learn the ability to be able to take care of oneself and give oneself a better standard of living than welfare would benefit the whole country."
Can’t be said better than that.
