The Prison Library Project has launched the 'Contrabanned' women's health book campaign to combat censorship and improve health education for incarcerated women in the United States. Unveiled during Prison Banned Books Week, this initiative addresses the systematic banning of women's health books in many state prisons, where depictions of female anatomy are often labeled as 'sexually explicit' and prohibited. With approximately 975,000 incarcerated women in the U.S., many lack access to basic health literacy resources, creating significant public health concerns.
The campaign's innovative approach circumvents these restrictions by sending each of the book's 250 pages as individual letters, which are not subject to the same censorship as complete books. Over three months, each page was sent to an anonymous incarcerated woman, a former nurse, who assembled the pages into a complete book using dental floss available in the prison commissary. This method enabled the creation and distribution of multiple copies within the prison system, demonstrating a creative solution to institutional barriers.
Developed in partnership with OHG's Purpose Group, the book's content was created by female health literacy experts and medical students specifically for incarcerated women. It covers essential topics including menstrual health, breast cancer, and sexual health, written at a level accessible to the 70% of incarcerated women who read below a fourth-grade level. Dr. Susan Andreas, a contributor to the book and Director of Health Literacy at one of the Purpose Group agencies, emphasized that 'women with limited health literacy tend to have higher rates of hospitalization and are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions. Access to health literate content can help change that.'
Mckenna Deluca from the Prison Library Project highlighted the broader implications of this initiative, noting that 'Contrabanned shows the power of knowledge, but also peer education, which research shows reduces risky behavior and the rate of reincarceration. This content is needed from a public health concern standpoint and for the safety of our communities.' The campaign extends beyond book creation with a petition at https://chng.it/x47hTdgcgf aimed at making 'Contrabanned' the first approved women's health book across the prison system, addressing growing concerns about censorship in prison libraries.
To mark the launch, the Prison Library Project will host a livestream event on September 20th, 2024, featuring the team behind this innovative project. Public support is encouraged through donations for postage to create more books and by signing the petition at Contrabanned.us. This initiative represents a significant advancement in addressing health education needs for incarcerated women while challenging systemic barriers to information access in correctional facilities.
