Well it’s settled, Martha Stewart, federal inmate No. 55170-054, surrenders Friday, at “Camp Cupcake,” the Federal Prison Camp for women in Alderson Virginia, far away from family, friends, and everyday life. Alderson, is America’s oldest prison for women, and former home to some of America’s most infamous women – Kathryn Kelly (wife of “Machine Gun” Kelly), Billie Holliday, Tokyo Rose, Axis Sally, and would-be presidential assassins Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore.
Yes, Martha Stewart can go to the 105 acre bucolic campus on the Greenbriar River, and learn Italian, but without a CD player this may prove challenging. On the other hand, Martha could catch up on her reading, perhaps some bestselling fiction the The Da Vinci Code, or Angels & Demons by Dan Brown, like many of us who have served time planned to. Murder mysteries are always popular in women’s prisons. However, prison libraries haven’t been restocked in years. Men seem to fare a lot better than women when it comes to this aspect of prison life, after all keeping men focused and occupied cuts down on any violent tendencies brought on by close quarters.
Yes, Martha can go through the entire experience in total denial, sleeping, reading and ‘italiano parlante.’ Many do, and many return because of it. After all, each of us does our time in our own way. The examples are limitless; the United States represents just 4.6% of the world’s population but warehouses 25% of the world’s prison population. Democracy at its finest I guess. The United States has the highest prison rate in the world, some 686 per 100,000 of the national population. The number of women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal authorities has been increasing steadily, with a 5% increase from June 30, 2002 to June 30, 2003, as compared to men at an increase of 2.7% for the same period. Who are these nameless, faceless, forgotten women? Who are these mothers and grandmothers? Sisters and daughters? Except for the few more infamous women of the past decade, like Martha Stewart, Leona Helmsley and maybe Lea Fastow, only those behind the walls really know.
They are women caught in the net, most frequently women of color, most under 40, and most suffering abuse throughout their lives. 68% of these women are serving sentences greater than 5 years, and 48% over 10 years. Yes, they have been in the drug trade – usually at the lowest level – carrying cargo like mules or purveying their wares in the crack houses of broken cities. Women sentenced under the most draconian of drug laws and sentencing guidelines. Women with kids, – kids who may show up occasionally in the visiting room – if they can be located and brought the long distance by some kind and willing friend or relative.
When these women finally land in Alderson or Danbury or wherever, reality hits – they may be here for 7, 10 or even 15 years – their kids are their overarching concern. Too little too late, you might say. Why didn’t they think sooner? Well, why have we emptied our mental institutions and hospitals, only to fill our prisons? Why have we taken funds from community development, health services, violence intervention, drug rehabilitation, and schools, only to fill our prisons?
The majority of these women have addictions, and mental health issues, in addition to health problems such as HIV, Hepatitis C or diabetes. All of these women housed under one roof – the ‘pill line’ in prison is never ending. These are the women that fill the ranks of our Federal Prisons from Danbury, to Los Angeles, from Brooklyn to Seattle, and from Houston to Chicago, 23 facilities in all, wherever the ‘great society’ has chosen to warehouse them. These are the women with whom I shared my life, and these are the women with whom Martha Stewart will now share hers.
So what can Martha learn? She will quickly learn how many of life’s little conveniences we take for granted; our radios, bathrobes, sneakers and hand lotion. She will learn who she really is, stripped of the control, possessions and trappings of everyday life. Yes, she can learn Italian, or catch up on her reading, become doyenne of the organic garden, even study Buddhism. But, what Martha can really learn does not have to do with improving her mind; or even occupying her time. It has to do with opening her heart. It has to do with the ‘other America.’ It is hard to look away when you are a part of it. It is heart wrenching to meet women who will be incarcerated for 7 years, 16 years, and yes sometimes life; to meet women who may never leave this place.
Martha has the opportunity to contribute something greater than neat decorating tips or tasty holiday recipes. She has the opportunity to connect with women who need nurturing, guidance, support, teaching, parenting and some times just an ear. She can look at the photo albums of their kids, listen to the stories of their lives, and just be there. This is the biggest thing Martha can learn and the greatest gift she could ever give. And perhaps, just perhaps, she may come away with something great in return. I did.
Wendy Golenbock Educational and Advocacy Blogs 