Girly mags and girly jobs: Pornography and gendered inequality in forensic practice

Abstract

This article presents findings from a discourse analytic study into the constructive nature and textual variations of language in a high-security hospital. It explores how mental health nurses, and men convicted of sexual offences who also have a diagnosis of personality disorder, talked about pornography and sexual crime in the context of forensic provision. Access to sexually-explicit media, in relation to treatment environments for people convicted of sexual offences, has become a cause for professional and political concern in the UK. Data collection and analysis, undertaken concurrently, were informed by a discursive design. Semistructured interviews, as co-constructed accounts with nursing staff and detained patients, were audio-taped and transcribed. Data were coded to identify the discursive repertoires, or collective talk, of respondents. In contrast to empirical inquiry into pornography and sexual violence, methodology shifted attention from measurement to meaning, and situated research in a clinical domain. The findings focus on performative language use, where talk about pornography textured the treatment environment, contributed to an overtly masculine discourse, framed the ward as male space, and promoted gendered inequality. The discussion questions the legitimacy of the therapeutic enterprise.

Supporting the Sexual Intimacy Needs of Patients in a Longer Stay Inpatient Forensic Setting

“…While patients felt confident they were all well enough to make decisions about sexual relationships, nurses were less equivocal. This probably reflects the greater responsibility nurses have for risk mitigation as recognized by others (Mercer, 2013;Timmons, 2010).…”

Sex on show. Issues of privacy and dignity in a Forensic mental health hospital: Nurse and patient views

“…When the therapeutic relationship erodes, nurses describe addressing problems by controlling undesirable behaviours (Gildberg et al . ), to ensure the smooth running of the unit (Mercer ).…”

“…The management and control of dangerous and aberrant behaviours also extends to emotional and sexual relationships (Bartlett et al . ) where sexual relationships are frequently perceived as risks that need to be managed (Dobal & Torkelson , Perry & Wright , Pacitti & Thornicroft , Mercer , Tennille & Wright ). The resulting approach is generally a prohibition on sexual intimacy between patients (Dobal & Torkelson ), with clinicians encouraged to police and actively prevent sexual activity from occurring; and reinforce to patients that sexual intimacy is not to occur (Department of Health Services ).…”

Consumer sexual relationships in a Forensic mental health hospital: Perceptions of nurses and consumers

“…Of further concern are the reports to sexual assaults occurring during times of admission (Frueh et al 2005). Sexual relationships might, therefore, be considered a greater concern in forensic hospitals, where consumers pose unique risks and sexual safety concerns associated with their offending behaviours (Mercer 2013). Limited evidence from these environments suggests a lack of support from nurses for consumers forming sexual relationships (Bartlett et al 2010;Tennille & Wright 2013).…”