Women prisoners not allowed to wash their underwear?

[SnakebitesandSambucas]

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.

https://news.sky.com/story/women-prisoners-banned-from-putting-dirty-underwear-in-washing-machines-13303440

Apologies link is here not behind a paywall.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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/

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

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 )

You cannot seriously think that men are treated better in prison than woman are?!

Some of the issues in the article are presented a bit weirdly. I.e. a woman complaining that she "arrived with only one pair of underwear". Well, duh.. you pack more, surely. I don't see how this is specifically a prison's issue.
Also not sure why washing underwear and using the same bowl to shave is unhygienic if you can rinse it in-between. Unless they have no sinks in the cell and are given one bowl of water per week.
The rest of the stuff like not being able to call home when arriving to prison, lack of f2f visits etc. is exactly the same for men. I literally just finished a book by Chris Atkins about his "stay" in Wandsworth.
Prison are not nice places, despite popular opinion.

It's in a government report about the state of women's prisons. It was also reported in the guardian.
It's an absolute disgrace. I read the guardian article and they are being treated with a massive lack of dignity and it's fuelling self harm and mental health issues. They are often over 50 miles away from families and only allowed one phone call/video call to their family a month. I was shocked when I read it. One woman came to prison with one pair of knickers, they wouldn't provide her with any more, so she had to hand wash the same pair every night. Wearing prison issues clothes designed for men. There was just loads of stuff that was unacceptable.

It’s prison.. I don’t care! If you’re in there you aren’t meant to be having fun!

If I am to believe in the report it shows that they are. Why would you think other wise?

Less visiting times, better activities put on for male prisoners etc......

But you should be treated with some dignity. If prison is to be used as rehabilitation then they deserve the chances to do this in a dignified and safe manner. Most women in prisons are actually victims be that of abuse as a child or adult or other causes, they still deserve dignity and a chance to better themselves.

Exactly. Going to prison, the restriction of liberty is the punishment, not what happens there, which should be about rehabilitation.

I wonder if they give you an information sheet on what to pack? Are you allowed other stuff? I genuinely had no idea you would need to pack for prison. I sort of assumed you’d strip on entry all your stuff goes in a box and you only have prison issue clothes to wear for the duration of your stay.

Ig might just be in American films though.

I was just thinking the same as I was brushing my teeth 😂
I am sure there is some information online that you would check before being "admitted". I would be inclined to think that I'd pack undies and socks as if I was going on holiday and at least a set of PJs and trackies.
There is someone up thread who works in prison who may correct me but my understanding is that you wear prison issued clothes until you get to enhanced level which is when you are allowed to wear your own clothes.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1046265/ListofitemsallowedinDetentionCentresandPrisons-Jan2022.pdf

list of clothing and stuff you can take with you
There are lots of guides, I’ve never thought to look before.

https://prisonguide.co.uk/items-allowed-in-prison/

I agree.
They are all volunteers.

I presume some women don’t have the opportunity to pack, if you’re deemed dangerous or a flight risk you wouldn’t be going home once arrested, presumably if you don’t have family support willing and/or able to travel to prison you’re a bit stuck. Not providing adequate underwear is failing to treat women with dignity. Most women in prison have a history of abuse and trauma. We need to do better, otherwise prison just doesn’t work and people get into cycles of criminality.

Most women in prisons are actually victims be that of abuse as a child or adult or other causes they are putting people in prison for being victims?! NOT because they've broken the law, been arrested and been to court and found guilty of a crime?! That's appalling!!

Not providing adequate underwear is failing to treat women with dignity.

And that is before you look at all the incidences of poor maternal care leading to the death of babies and women being left to give birth alone in their cells.

Also the fact that women are more likely to incarcerated for non violent crimes than men.