#4

Approximately 300 women held in immigration detention centers in Arizona are struggling from various health issues. Women need more medical attention than men when it comes to their bodily well being, and as illegal immigrants--are not getting it. The 300 women reside in Arizona, while there are over 3,000 women in such detention centers nationwide. The study was released January 13th, and immigration officials immediately criticized it, saying the research was "unsubstantiated". The women were treated aggressively even without a potential flight risk-which caused some internal damage. Women suffered from ovarian cysts, lack of prenatal care, lack of cancer treatment, and were sometimes put in cells with federal prisoners. Those especially affected by the harsh conditions were pregnant mothers or new moms who had their children in the detention centers.
Gender roles in prison can seem almost ignored, the two sexes have both done something wrong, and therefore are treated as such. This story reminds me of the semi-recent discovery of the way that women need to stretch to get warmed up before being active. Many olympic level women athletes were being warmed up the way that men usually do, when their bodies are entirely different. Treatment for women is also complex and different.

Frosch, Dan. "Report Faults Treatment of Women Held at Immigration Centers." The New York Times. 20 January 2009.