ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to demonstrate that women are often incarcerated as a direct result of systemic patriarchal oppression. It draws on Allan Johnson's definition and framework of patriarchy from his text The Gender Knot: Unraveling our patriarchal legacyand examines this fact through the characters of Orange is the New Black (OITNB). The chapter examines the aspects and definition of patriarchy. It summarizes the history of women's incarceration and imprisonment. The way our society uses language, creates standards of living, considers what is good and bad, and what behavior is or is not accepted is directly defined in relation to male identity. As a system, patriarchy encourages men to continue the oppression of women, as well as accept male privilege, that it is mostly men who dominate in positions of power in society. The criminalization of domestic violence, the arrest of both offender and victim, and harsher drug penalties contributed to the increase in female incarceration.
