WGSS 1110H students posed for a "silly" group photo during their final class meeting at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in December 2022.
WGSS 1110H students posed for a group photo during their final class meeting at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in December 2022.
In Autumn 2022, OPEEP Co-Director Dr. Mary Thomas taught WGSS 1110H: Gender, Sex, and Power at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. The course focused on the ways in which race, class/income/wealth, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, ethnicity, and location structure the lived, cultural, and political experiences of people. Studying these topics in the context of a women's prison facility resulted in some powerful classroom discussions and activities, as well as some brilliant feminist work produced by students. OPEEP invited several outside students to reflect on their experience in the course, and their statements/responses to interview questions can be read below:
Student: Olivia Perry
How did you initially discover OPEEP/what sparked your interest in taking an OPEEP class?
"I initially discovered OPEEP at freshman orientation when I was scheduling my classes. I told my advisor I was a Criminal Justice major and how I was ready to jump into classes that related to that. She told me there's this really cool class that was at the all-women's prison in Marysville. She said it was a Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies class and immediately I had to do whatever it took to get into that class. It was Wednesday and she said the deadline for enrolling in that class was that Friday and I needed to call the professor and ask for their permission as soon as possible. I was so nervous to call Dr. Mary Thomas who was teaching the course because I didn't know really what to say. The moment she said hello to me though it just all flowed out and before I knew it, I was enrolled in the course. It was a very good decision too."
How has taking an OPEEP class impacted your overall educational experience at OSU?
"Taking an OPEEP course has really impacted me as a person because it opened up my mind as a freshman in college and I feel better prepared in life now for making future interactions with people in the world. This class was a very interesting class for me to take because it allowed me to meet so many new people with so many different stories and it really changed my ways of thinking. It also made me become aware of what is really going on and instead of just letting these same broken cycles continue we need to stand up as not only women but a community and fight back against white supremacy, racism, sexism, indigenous injustice, etc. This class taught me a lot about labeling too and how important it is to not judge people by the mistakes they've made."
Would you recommend taking an OPEEP class to other OSU students?
"I would highly recommend taking an OPEEP course to other OSU students because it's a unique experience that not everyone gets the chance to do, and not only will it change your ways of thinking, but it will show you hidden truths about the world that you may not have known before. Overall, it was an amazing experience, especially as a first year because I made friendships with classmates that I will hold onto forever and going to class became a joy because of them and I will definitely be taking more OPEEP courses before I'm out of here in 4 years."
Student: Katie Weaver
What kinds of feelings, expectations, and/or assumptions did you have leading up to the first day of class at the prison facility? Did any of these initial feelings, expectations, and/or assumptions change over the course of the semester?
"Honestly, I was very nervous and a little scared. I had never been near a prison before, let alone inside of one so I had a lot of stereotypes in my head about incarcerated people. After going to the class for the first time, however, all of those fears and unjustified assumptions went away. The connections I made with the women in our class were incredible and I learned so much about incarceration that I never would have learned on the outside. On our last class meeting, I was in tears thinking about having to leave all of my new friends in the prison."
How has taking an OPEEP class impacted your overall educational experience at OSU?
"OPEEP has taken my education to a whole new level. It got me out of the classroom and into the real world and gave me incredibly unique experiences and perspectives that will help me in the future!"
In what ways have the experience and knowledge you've gained from taking an OPEEP course complimented and/or applied to your specific major/field of study?
"My experience in OPEEP has pushed me to heavily consider working in all different types of institutions as a Clinical Psychologist. These groups of people are so incredibly underserved and deserve the help they would be receiving on the outside. I've heard so many stories from my classmates about their struggles with mental health and the straight up psychological abuse they endure. Their stories and emotions behind them made me want to be the one to stand up for them and put an end to horrible practices that affect incarcerated people."
Would you recommend taking an OPEEP class to other OSU students?
"I would recommend absolutely everyone to take an OPEEP course! You simply can't learn the types of life lessons you learn in this class on the outside."
What is one thing you wish more people knew about OPEEP or prison education more broadly?
"I wish people knew that in these courses you learn such fascinating and sometimes really hard things that you wouldn't normally hear about out in the regular world. I also wish people would take the leap and allow themselves to challenge their beliefs about incarcerated populations. I promise you won't regret or ever forget this experience! Take the leap, take the class."
Student: Haley Stav
“I would say my discovery of OPEEP was one of the happiest accidents I have experienced in my college career. I needed to take WGGS 1100 (Gender, Sex, and Power) for my DEI certificate, and the course offering for last semester was an OPEEP class. The ability to examine these dynamics within the prison system was an opportunity that was simply too interesting to pass up. As a Political Science pre-law major, getting this inside look at the criminal justice system was crucial and formative. It was my OPEEP class that solidified my intentions to become a criminal defense attorney and fight for justice, as well as broadened my interest in alternatives to incarceration. Getting to create genuine, positive connections with individuals on the inside allowed me a new outlook on the prison system, and I was able to examine feminist ideals, power structures, and everyday feminisms both inside and outside the prison system, a unique opportunity I would never have had if not for OPEEP. I cannot recommend OPEEP courses enough. The diverse course offerings ensure that there will be the right course for you and allow you to learn and grow in intimate, positive, and supportive classroom settings. I remember telling my friends I was taking a course inside a correctional facility alongside incarcerated individuals, and many asked me if I was nervous. The one thing I wish people knew about OPEEP and incarcerated individuals as a whole is that they are simply other students in your course. They contribute positively to class discussions as much, if not more so, than Ohio State students and share much of their rich personal experiences that add an extra layer to course content. I believe anyone interested in the justice system, power structures, or simply incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunities should look into taking an OPEEP course. I know that this experience will positively impact me for the rest of my life, and the things I learned in my course and from the strong, amazing individuals in my class will stay with me as I pursue justice in my chosen field. I love OPEEP!”
Student: Alison Gruber
“I initially discovered OPEEP last semester through an advisor who recommended that I take the Honors version of WGSST 1110, which happened to take place at ORW. I wasn’t sure what all that entailed, but a non-traditional classroom setting intrigued me. Leading up to the first day of class at the prison facility, I was very nervous but also excited because I had no idea what to expect. I quickly learned that there was nothing to be nervous about, and it became a class I looked forward to every week. Taking a course alongside incarcerated students was eye-opening in many ways. Having a class in a prison setting challenged many misconceptions that I personally possessed (prior to this experience), and that I think most people have about incarceration. It gave me a new perspective on incarceration in general, and it was incredible to see how everyone’s different life experiences shaped their beliefs and ideas. Taking an OPEEP course showed me the importance of making education, specifically higher education more accessible for everyone, especially those incarcerated. I would highly recommend taking an OPEEP course to anyone, and it was an experience that I will always be grateful for.”
Student: Jacob Depinet
How did you initially discover OPEEP/what sparked your interest in taking an OPEEP class?
"I discovered OPEEP from a friend who had previously taken a course through the program. She had really enjoyed it and it helped her choose her major! I ended up looking into the program and found a course that fulfilled both a gen ed and minor requirement and decided to sign up."
What kinds of feelings, expectations, and/or assumptions did you have leading up to the first day of class at the prison facility? Did any of these initial feelings, expectations, and/or assumptions change over the course of the semester?
"I was most fearful of how the guards were going to behave towards me during our interactions together as they have been noted for not being kind to other students (and other people in general) in the past. This feeling did decrease as I went through the program, but I was always cautious around them. I was most excited about meeting the inside students and learning about their perspectives on the content as well as their perspective on life. We were always eager to hear each other and connect."
How has taking an OPEEP class impacted your overall educational experience at OSU?
"I'm currently taking Gender & Crime for my minor and I've been trying to make connections with the people I've met and the stories they've shared with me. It really gives me a realistic frame to put some of my coursework to. And of course the knowledge I learned in Gender, Sex, and Power I carry with me everywhere. We've also begun to do some work with menstrual equity in prisons at the state level within PERIOD at Ohio State. OPEEP gave me a great first hand experience as to what being a menstruator in a prison looks like."
In what ways have the experience and knowledge you've gained from taking an OPEEP course complimented and/or applied to your specific major/field of study?
"OPEEP was an opportunity for me to look at glimpses into the criminal justice system. I'm currently working on developing the research aspect of my major and I keep finding myself moving towards incarceration and how we can keep people out of prisons so there's no longer a need for them. I think OPEEP has played a really big role in that."
Would you recommend taking an OPEEP class to other OSU students?
"Yes! There really is no other program that will give you an experience like this at Ohio State!"
What is one thing you wish more people knew about OPEEP or prison education more broadly?
"I wish people didn't approach the OPEEP program or prison education so apprehensively. There's this notion that upon entering a prison that you're unsafe or the incarcerated student will be violent towards you. These assumptions are just not true. Everyone in my class was excited to learn and to be there just as much as I was. I wish people would separate the idea that just because someone is incarcerated that they are a threat and value incarcerated people as the complex people they are just like you and me."