There is an intentional push by many in the advocacy field to rebrand the socially accepted and preferred language surrounding identifying individuals with a conviction/incarceration history. I’m all for change that decreases marginalization towards vulnerable populations, however I can’t help but challenge this movement. I understand that the powers that be have surveyed and quantified their data and therefore feel this is an evidenced based argument but let’s really big picture this idea on a reality based scale.

Societal constructs are in my opinion one of the most harmful concepts of our species. The construct of gender, sex, race, sexual orientation, power hierarchies, age groups — all the boxes one must check off on a form — they’re harmful and they also are made up. Ironically, they also constantly shift to keep up strife. Most people either don’t realize this or they just don’t care because they’ve bought into the system, the system in this case being society. There may be an outlier here and there but for the most part, these constructs dictate everybody’s interpretation of everything they experience. Pretty weird when it’s broken down like that isn’t it?

After the abolishment of slavery in our country the government needed another group to have at the bottom of the totem. Criminals apparently drew the short straw. [Side note: please remember the extreme youth of our entire nation in a historical scope when realizing how completely we’ve bought into systems constructed to keep everybody at odds with others because of made up identities. It’s like allowing a 3 year-old to dictate your entire existence.] Without the substantial population slaves made up the carceral system soon became industrialized and this population swelled quickly.

It’s also important to realize that the placement of criminals into this position vacated by slaves was intentional. The 13th amendment, the one that abolished slavery, also takes away the status of person from prisoners. I’m not exaggerating, in my time incarcerated I have seen women written tickets labeled “destruction of state property” for sunburns they then had to treat. You could cut up a pair of pants or burn your arm with sun exposure, and it’s viewed exactly the same in the eyes of the state. This is acceptable behavior because of the document our country was framed with, so that’s pretty intentional. With that groundwork we set the stage for the systemic marginalization of this population, making the ideology regarding this group what it is today.

What does that have to do with language you might be thinking. A lot actually.
For example, the term ‘black’ wasn’t the common identifier for a wide encompassing group of people until somebody with influence defined the term. Traditionally one would claim their homeland to define their identity. So, any label, be it incarcerated person or felon only equates to what the larger group define it as. If we just pivot the terminology from the inmate/felon/prisoner instead to incarcerated person we’re just rebranding the same stereotype associated with the first group. It may take a bit of time but in a random amount of years we’ll be trying to solve this same problem just with new labels. It’s a reactive response not a proactive approach.

Instead, the time, effort, energy and resources being poured into this mission should be focused on eradicating the stereotypes associated with any terminology regarding criminal history. Which I don’t say lightly. I understand it’s a monumental project altering constructs that have been shoved down our throats since we were in the womb. I also understand that its necessary for any real and lasting change. We can look back in history and see that other rebranding campaigns have had less than encouraging success, labels stick until the group individualizes their multifacetedness on a personal level. Once that happens, the mirage of the stereotype is shattered, and then a new definition can be built in its place.

I say this as a convicted murderer that doesn’t at all resemble the bogeyman we’ve been told a person with that label should look like. I’m also a published writer, and honor student with two degrees already who’s completing my BA, a sister, and individual person with goals and dreams who will be a contribution to society. In summary, more than just that one label. I look like an elementary school teacher, and I’m honestly about as intimidating as one too. I’m in a facility with almost 2000 other women that don’t fit into the mold either. My response whenever I’m told I don’t look like I’d be in prison (and this is something I hear quite often) is always the same. I tell the person that felons are everywhere. This always makes the person laugh but I’m being serious, its probably a max of two degrees of separation from anybody and a felon, not even two for you because the person writing this is your connection! So why is the label so degrading?

I choose to breakdown the stereotype not give an additional term to the already extensive list. Maybe I’m crazy, but a prisoner or felon or convict or criminal is a group whose box I check so I’m going to own it. The 16 years I’ve been a part of this population has impacted the person I am today, in many good ways actually. I know my real strength, I’ve cultivated tenacity and patience, I know what my ethics and values are and live accordingly, I know undoubtedly that I can stand on my own and pick myself up if I fail, and the most valuable impact is my heightened empathy. There’s bad as well, but all that good needs to be acknowledged too. So yeah, I’m OK with being called an inmate.. I’ll respond to incarcerated person as well. I’m much more concerned with our constitution turning me into property, let’s focus on the big issues here everyone.

*Ashleigh Smith is a lettersfromchristopher.com contributing writer.