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18 Punishment & Soc'y 3 (2016)

handle is hein.journals/punscty18 and id is 1 raw text is: 




Article
                                                                 Punishment & Society
                                                                 2016, Vol. 18(l) 3-26
Wounded healers: How                                           @The Author(s)
                                                             Reprints and permissions:
form     erly     incarcerated                        sagepubmuk<journalsPermsonsnav

women help themselves                                              psage

by helping others

Gretchen Heidemann
Whittier College, USA

Julie A  Cederbaum and Sidney Martinez
University of Southern California, USA

Thomas P LeBel
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA




Abstract
This mixed methods study explores the role that being a helper/wounded healer has for
formerly incarcerated women. Regression analyses examining the influence of a helper/
wounded  healer orientation on self-esteem and social support are triangulated with in-
depth responses to probes regarding the benefits of helping others among a purposive
sample of previously incarcerated women. Results reveal that helping others benefits
the helper by boosting self-esteem, increasing prosocial activity, and enhancing social
connectedness. The culture of giving back and being of service to others who are less
far along in the recovery/reintegration process is discussed. Implications for policy and
practice are offered.


Keywords
formerly incarcerated women, mixed-methods research, prisoner reentry, self-esteem,
social support, wounded healers

Introduction

Women's  representation among jail, prison, probation, and parole populations has
increased sharply since the 1980s, largely the result of drug war policies and an



Corresponding author:
Gretchen Heidemann, University of Southern California, Montgomery Ross Fisher Building, 669 West 34th
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Email: gheidema@usc.edu

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