Prisons, places far removed from social rules, actually form a unique "hierarchy of contempt."
A woman who served five years in prison shared her experiences, revealing the complex interpersonal relationships within.
In this closed environment, the status divisions among criminals are intriguing.
As a woman who spent five years in prison, she lived in multiple detention centers and prisons.
At first, she thought that rapists would be the most despised group in prison, as society and the media generally view them as "inferior," provoking widespread disdain.
However, over time, she realized that the reality of prison is far more complex than she had imagined.
Prison is like a miniature society with intricate interpersonal relationships and unwritten rules.
These rules are based not only on the severity of crimes but also on personal performance, wealth, and power.
In this seemingly closed world, the complexity of the rules is not inferior to that of the outside society.
The lowest status is not held by those who commit serious crimes like rape, but by those guilty of child trafficking.
Almost all inmates harbor profound hatred towards child traffickers.
This disdain even surpasses that for other violent criminals, as it touches upon the most sensitive nerves within everyone.
Child trafficking not only shatters a family's hopes but also destroys a child's future; many believe this crime deserves no forgiveness.
In prison, these criminals are often isolated, with almost no one willing to talk to them, even other inmates deliberately keeping their distance.
However, the formation of this hierarchy of contempt is not solely reliant on the nature of the crimes.
In prison, there are also individuals that other inmates regard with trepidation, not due to heinous crimes but because they show no desire for freedom.
These individuals have been incarcerated multiple times, accustomed to prison life, even considering it their second home.
They are indifferent towards parole and release, as if entering and exiting prison is just an ordinary occurrence for them.
Unlike those eager for early release and yearning for freedom, these "old hands" are often reckless in prison, becoming targets that others avoid provoking.
They do not choose to endure out of fear of losing parole; instead, they frequently clash with others.
These individuals create a unique presence in prison; despite lacking social status, their fearlessness makes others hesitant to approach them.
Beyond crimes and attitudes toward freedom, the prison hierarchy is also closely related to performance and wealth.
Work performance in prison is a crucial factor in determining one's status.
Inmates who excel in labor often earn respect from others.
In prison, work is not just a punishment but a means to elevate one’s status.
Inmates who perform well can not only gain opportunities for early release but also earn the respect of their peers.
Meanwhile, wealth's influence in prison should not be underestimated. Despite seeming isolation from the outside world, inmates can still improve their living conditions through remittances from family.
Wealthy criminals can use money to win over others, even forming their own small circles within prison.
In a way, wealth provides these individuals with a survival advantage, while those without it can only endure silently.
Additionally, power in prison can also benefit inmates.
Some political prisoners or former high-ranking criminals may lose their external power in prison, but to other inmates, they remain significant figures.
Many inmates believe these individuals can regain their social status even after release, hence they prefer to maintain good relationships, hoping to leverage their power in the future.
This continuity of power allows these individuals to retain a certain "noble" identity in prison, making them a unique category in the prison hierarchy.
Of course, the prison hierarchy is not limited to wealth and power.
Factors like age, education level, religious beliefs, and even sexual orientation can also influence one's status in prison.
For instance, older inmates often receive more care due to physical reasons, while educated inmates can earn respect through their knowledge.
However, these factors can sometimes also lead to conflicts.
The hierarchy of contempt in prison is omnipresent, and each person's position within it is not fixed.
Those seeking survival in prison often need to keenly perceive these invisible rules.
The hierarchy of contempt in prison is far more complex than we imagine; it reflects a comprehensive embodiment of crime severity, social relationships, wealth, power, and individual performance.
For most inmates, finding a way to survive in this small society often determines their quality of life in prison.
Though prison rules seem isolated from the outside world, they are still part of social rules.
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