Muslim Women in the Prison System. Identities Negotiated Between Agency and Organizational Constraints

Abstract

Research on Muslim women in prison is fragmented. This meta-ethnography synthesizes four qualitative studies (67 participants) from Euro-North American contexts (2010-2024). Unlike previous research examining gender and religion separately, this study investigates double marginalization within monocultural prison systems. The original contribution is a theoretical-applied model integrating intersectional perspectives with organizational theory for culturally competent interventions. The model proposes specialized staff training, cultural mediation, and organizational restructuring. Contrasting with existing descriptive literature, this study provides concrete, practice-oriented recommendations for institutional transformation in correctional settings, addressing the intersection of gender and religious identity in prison contexts.