An Examination of the Themes of Invisibility and Hypervisibility in Black Women’s Experiences within the Prison System

Author(s)

Sarah N. Kuhns, University of Dayton

Advisor

Denise James

Department

Philosophy

Publication Date

5-1-2021

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

Using Kimberlee Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality, the author argues that how incarcerated Black women are treated because of how others perceive their identities lead to certain traits of theirs being rendered invisible or hyper-visible. Their humanity and needs are rendered invisible while stereotypes of criminality, insanity and hyper-sexuality are hyper-visible. Because their humanity is not fully seen, while their criminality is seen as hyper-visible, state violence is used against them as a tool of control and domination. Due to the fact that incarceration and the state violence that comes with a prison sentence, prison abolition should be considered as a solution to this problem.

Permission Statement

This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes.

Keywords

Undergraduate research

Disciplines

Philosophy

eCommons Citation

Kuhns, Sarah N., "An Examination of the Themes of Invisibility and Hypervisibility in Black Women’s Experiences within the Prison System" (2021). Honors Theses. 323.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_theses/323