SWOP Behind Bars stories

There’s a version of feminism out there that wears a pussyhat, clutches her pearls, and still calls the manager when a sex worker speaks at a panel. She’s the board member who proudly posts “women supporting women” selfies, yet signs off on policies that systematically exclude trans women, criminalized mothers, and survivors who sell sex just to stay housed. She believes in women’s empowerment—as long as it arrives wrapped in a col...

The GED Gap — Why Basic Education Still Isn’t Basic (Especially if You're a Woman in a Cage

Let’s be clear: education has always been hyped as “the great equalizer.” A ladder out of poverty. A ticket to freedom. Blah blah bootstrap narrative. But for incarcerated women—especially survivors of trafficking, abuse, and generational poverty—education isn’t just inaccessible, it’s practically mythical.

We’re talking about women who’ve b...

Ashley’s only “crime” was surviving. Years earlier, she had been trafficked. Then criminalized. Then released. And like so many others, when resources ran out and opportunities closed, she turned back to the only means of survival she knew. The system didn’t offer support. It offered a cell.

And when she asked for help—real help, in the form of a diversion program—they slammed the door in her face.

She was taken from court the next...

We’ve spent the last five blog posts tracing the landscape of reproductive injustice, pregnancy and birth behind bars, mental health neglect, and the painful gaps that derail reentry for women who’ve been incarcerated. And now, in this final post, we turn toward hope and action.

Because while the criminal legal system continues to fail women—especially Black, brown, trans, disabled, and low-income women—communities are leading the ...

The moment a woman is released from incarceration is supposed to mark a new beginning. But for many, especially those with untreated health conditions, trauma, or chronic illnesses, reentry is more like walking off a cliff with no net below.

Incarcerated women often leave prison or jail with no medical records, no prescriptions, no referrals, and no support. After months—or years—of inadequate care, their health needs remain unreso...

At SWOP Behind Bars, we don't just talk about justice—we embody it. And let’s be real: in this work, survival alone isn't the goal. We're here for thriving. That means care that's intentional, compassion that's culturally competent, and connection that doesn't vanish when the paperwork's done.

Our team isn’t made up of robots or case numbers—we’re human bein...

Here’s the million-dollar question—and it says more about society’s deep-seated stigma than it ever will about the capability, wisdom, or contributions of sex workers and sex worker rights activists: Why aren’t sex workers being recognized and utilized as powerful tools in the fight for good and evil? It’s a question that should make everyone uncomfortable, because the answer isn’t rooted in a lack of experience, insight, or leader...

On this International Workers' Day, Swap Behind Bars highlights the often-overlooked contributions of sex workers to the labor movement. While rallies and marches pay tribute to labor movements across the globe, sex workers frequently find themselves excluded from these narratives. This episode underscores the simple yet powerful message: sex work is work.

By exploring the diverse forms of labor sex workers engage in, we delve int...

Supply and demand determine the price of goods and services. This is just a fact—and facts matter. High demand or low supply raises prices; low demand or high supply lowers them. Tariffs—taxes on imports—disrupt this balance by artificially increasing the cost of goods and services. 

This basic principle of economics has been proven true since the dawn of time. Yet somehow, it remains an inconvenient truth for End Demand supporters...

This episode delves into the harrowing experiences of Tasha, a pregnant woman incarcerated in a county jail, shedding light on the broader issue of reproductive injustice in U.S. prisons and jails. Tasha's ordeal highlights the systemic neglect and denial of reproductive rights faced by incarcerated women, often subjected to inadequate medical care and forced into shattering decisions without autonomy.

We explore how incarcerated p...

This episode uncovers the harrowing realities of reproductive injustice faced by incarcerated women in the United States. Through the story of Maria, a pregnant woman who endured severe neglect and loss while behind bars, we explore how systemic failures in carceral settings deny women their reproductive rights. Despite condemnation and existing legislation, pregnant prisoners often face shackling, inadequate medical care, and forc...

When we talk about mass incarceration in the United States, the conversation often centers around numbers—how many people are locked up, how long they’ve been there, and what it costs. But behind those numbers are real people, and among them are women whose specific health needs are often ignored, neglected, or misunderstood.

This post kicks off a six-part series examining equity in women’s health care within prisons and jails, ins...

A trauma bond is a strong emotional attachment that develops out of a cycle of abuse, reward, and intermittent validation. It’s often seen in abusive relationships, cults, and manipulative institutions. The bond forms not despite the harm, but because the harm is tangled up with moments of care, dependency, or survival.

In many anti-trafficking spaces today, survivors face a coercive script. They are often nudged—whether by advocat...

In this episode, we delve into the vital role of trust in shaping our organizations and communities. Trust acts like the core operating system, influencing how effectively we organize, collaborate, and care for one another. When trust is low, costs increase, speed decreases, and relationships falter, leading to a systemic breakdown. However, high-trust environments foster speedier decision-making, creativity, and resilience, transf...

The feminist movement has led to profound changes, granting women the right to vote, expanding educational and professional opportunities, and challenging traditional gender norms. These victories, however, were not without their flaws—early efforts often excluded marginalized groups, leaving wage disparities, workplace harassment, and underrepresentation unaddressed. Rather than a failure, feminism and its reluctant willingness to...

In recent decades, the issue of healthcare for incarcerated women has emerged as a critical area of concern. Although prisons and jails strive to provide essential medical services, significant gaps remain—especially during the transition back into society. Women behind bars face unique and complex health challenges that differ significantly from those encountered by their male counterparts, and these differences are compounded by ...