Beyond punishment: unpaid labor as a transformative axis in women's criminal justice

Abstract

This study investigates the implications of recognizing domestic work performed by incarcerated women as a criterion for sentence reduction within the criminal justice system. In this context, domestic work is understood as a set of activities such as cleaning, food preparation, and daily maintenance, which, although carried out in an institutional environment, reproduce functions historically associated with care and the sustenance of life—tasks traditionally assigned to women in the domestic sphere. The research is guided by the following central question: in what ways can the recognition of domestic work as a means of sentence reduction contribute to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of incarcerated women? The study is based on the hypothesis that valuing these often invisible and undervalued activities can serve as a tool for personal empowerment, redefinition of identity, and reconstruction of family and community ties, thereby mitigating the effects of the stigma of incarceration. The investigation adopts a qualitative approach, grounded in a literature review and critical analysis of existing legislation. It concludes that the inclusion of domestic work as a legitimate activity for sentence reduction represents progress in valuing women's experiences within the prison system, while also highlighting the need for the development of more inclusive penal policies that are sensitive to gender inequalities.