Valarie Jenness speaks about transgenders in prison

[Shana A]

Valarie Jenness speaks about transgenders in prison
Study shows a tendency for transgendered inmates to act as females among males

By Steph Ratty
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2011

http://www.dailycampus.com/focus/valarie-jenness-speaks-about-transgenders-in-prison-1.2158864

Dozens of students congregated at the Rainbow Center Monday for a lecture on transgender prison inmates with University of California – Irvine professor, Valerie Jenness.

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Through the months of research and interviews, Jenness and her team learned that, while male-to-female transgender inmates in men's prisons often face sexual assault, they would rather stay among the men than be moved to women's facilities.

She said that the interview subjects like to be around the men because it gives a certain validation to their appeal as women. When they identify as female in a building full of men, they are the most desired, while the complete opposite is true at women's prisons. "Many feel more feminine in prison than in the community," she said.