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Original poster

Women prisoners not allowed to wash their underwear?

36 replies

SnakebitesandSambucas · 05/02/2025 20:40

Just seen this story pop up in a group of mine. The double standards in the mens prisons also highlighted in the article is shocking. So women aren't allowed to put their underwear in the commercial washing machines. They have to hand wash it, using their rations in their cell. Any ideas why this is the case? It seems so humiliating.

OP posts:
GoldMoon · 05/02/2025 20:55

In a male prison the pants are issued and just get chucked in the pile for washing so that are shared .
I've not worked in a female one but I assume they actually own them personally .
If you are on remand ( as a male ) you can wear your own clothes but they are bought in / changed by family.
In my jail there are a few wings with a washing machine ( for enhanced prisoners ) but they are not for standard ( normal level )

JazzyJelly · 05/02/2025 20:52

How do they cope with periods? That's awful.

LuckysDadsHat · 05/02/2025 20:50

SoapySponge · 05/02/2025 20:45

I'd want better evidence than a SkyNews report before I could comment one way or the other.

So the fact that report was conducted by the chief prisons inspector isn't enough for you?

To save you some time you can read the report straight from the horses mouth on the link below.

https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/annual-report/

Annual Report 2023-24 – HM Inspectorate of Prisons

https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/annual-report

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 05/02/2025 20:48

Doggymummar · 05/02/2025 20:46

Surely it would get mixed up if they threw it in the commercial laundry. I'd rather do it myself

I expect if they get their clothes back they'll get underwear back. It'll all be labelled I would assume.

DeedlessIndeed · 05/02/2025 20:47

The report says that this rule is being changed. Glad to hear.

LuckysDadsHat · 05/02/2025 20:46

NoSoupForU · 05/02/2025 20:44

I mean they are allowed to wash their underwear. They just have to hand wash it, same as millions of women around the world do.

Of all the things contributing to poor mental health of female prisoners its got to be quite far down the list.

With a bowl they only get on 1 day a week. While men can have their underwear washed in machines. You don't think this pattern of treating the women inferior to men may contribute to their mental health?

If you actually read the report you would see a whole ream of issues where the women are treated less favourably than male prisoners.

Doggymummar · 05/02/2025 20:46

Surely it would get mixed up if they threw it in the commercial laundry. I'd rather do it myself

SoapySponge · 05/02/2025 20:45

I'd want better evidence than a SkyNews report before I could comment one way or the other.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 05/02/2025 20:44

That's ridiculous. There cannot possibly be a valid reason why this is happening.

NoSoupForU · 05/02/2025 20:44

I mean they are allowed to wash their underwear. They just have to hand wash it, same as millions of women around the world do.

Of all the things contributing to poor mental health of female prisoners its got to be quite far down the list.

OP posts: