To put someone in prison or another place where they are not free to leave.
From Medieval Latin 'incarcerare' meaning 'to imprison', from 'in-' (in) and 'carcer' (prison, jail). 'Carcer' also gave us 'incarceration' and is related to words for enclosures.
Incarceration is more than just being locked up; it’s being placed ‘inside a cage’ (that’s what the root suggests). The formality of the word often hides the very physical reality of bars, walls, and lost freedom.
Discourse on incarceration has focused heavily on men, often overlooking women’s incarceration and its gender-specific impacts, such as on caregiving and reproductive health. Policies and narratives have sometimes ignored how gender, race, and class intersect in carceral systems.
When discussing incarceration, be precise about which populations are affected and acknowledge gendered and racialized disparities where relevant.
["imprison","detain","confine"]
Recognize the work of women—both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated—in prison abolition, reform, and mutual aid movements.
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