Measuring Attitudes Toward Pregnant Women who are Incarcerated in a University Sample

Abstract

Public attitudes toward people who are incarcerated have been studied; however, there is a paucity of information regarding how the public views pregnant women who are incarcerated. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative assessment investigating attitudes toward pregnant women who are incarcerated and prison conditions at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Participants included 507 students, staff, and faculty who were asked to specifically consider pregnant women who are incarcerated while completing the survey. We found that women, younger people, non-religious or non-Christian individuals, and those with higher levels of formal education perceived pregnant women who are incarcerated more positively and favored less punitive prison conditions. In addition, closer proximity to people who are incarcerated was associated with more positive attitudes toward pregnant women who are incarcerated but was not related to views on prison conditions. Qualitatively, participants reported that considering pregnant women who are incarcerated led them to respond with the same or less negativity than if they had been asked to consider people who are incarcerated as a whole, citing factors such as gender stereotypes and concern for the child. These results can be used as a foundation to understand how students, faculty, and staff at a large Midwestern university perceive pregnant women who are incarcerated and to inform education and policy efforts.