- The Guardian
- Issue #2138
First Nations artist and writer, Tabith Lean, an eloquent advocate for criminalised women, recounted not only her own devastating personal experiences on first being incarcerated, but also how Aunty Pat who works with Aboriginal women in prison, brought her hope out of total despair.
Poverty was clearly identified as the main driver of criminalisation as revealed by a woman being imprisoned for failing to pay for a pie at a service station in an effort to feed her child. Currently the South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, boasts about his government’s additional spending on prisons and police, when those millions would be better directed towards programs for disadvantaged children at school or more affordable government housing.
Aunty Pat revealed how difficult it is for a person who has been in jail to secure a job. Prison is a fact that has to be concealed, a further crime, in order have any chance of success with employment. Police clearances are required in many areas of work, with even some cleaning jobs out of bounds.
Both Aunty Pat and Tabitha agreed that more love and compassion is needed in dealing with unacceptable behaviour at the community level, possibly from friendly, understanding neighbours. In family situations, for instance, when police are called one partner can usually end up criminalised and as a consequence, children may be unable to see their father and a vital income may be lost to the family.
Another highlight was the discussion with First Nations women, looking back over the 50 years since the UN Year for Women was declared and several International forums since, plus IWD celebrations each year. What have these done for Australian First Nations ? There are now higher incarceration rates of Aboriginal women, more of their children being taken away and domestic violence and police brutality has increased. The Aboriginal women felt that IWD has become a middle class development leaving them behind.
A clear message was that all women, including criminalised women, should be offered the opportunity to march forward.
