This article examines how incarcerated mothers constructed moral identities in the face of stigma. Analyzing data from participant observation and 83 in-depth interviews with incarcerated mothers, we show that mothers claimed moral identities by distancing from the stigma of incarceration and/or embracing the identity of incarcerated mothers. Utilizing these strategies, women challenged the stigma of convicted felon/bad mother and reinforced the assumptions that motherhood is compulsory and should be reserved for women with enough money and standing to give their children advantages. The implications for understanding motherhood as a mechanism of moral identity and social control are discussed.

中文翻译：

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“没有孩子，你怎么能生活？”：远离“被监禁的母亲”并受到污名化

本文探讨了被监禁的母亲在面对耻辱时如何构建道德认同。通过分析参与者的观察数据以及对83名与被监禁母亲进行的深入访谈，我们发现，母亲通过远离被监禁的污名和/或拥护被监禁母亲的身份来宣称自己的道德身份。利用这些策略，妇女们挑战了被定罪的重罪犯/坏母亲的污名，并强化了以下假设：母亲是强制性的，应保留给有足够钱财和地位的妇女以给子女以优势。讨论了将母性理解为道德认同和社会控制机制的意义。