A Wigwam for a Goose's Bridle

This was a markedly uncomfortable read that I will be thinking about for some time. I’ve already asked two friends to read it because I want to be able to discuss its contents in more depth.

In order to review this, I need to comment on why I even noticed it. I rarely choose to read non-fiction, because I like my reading time to be enjoyable, an escape. Prior to this year, this title would barely have registered with me. If you’d asked me what I knew about abolitionism, I’d think of the graffiti and posters in the Inner West that say “kill your landlord and keep your rent money”. I’d say they were all extreme Marxists. I’d be happy to have a conversation about aspects of socialism that I do find attractive. I would definitely not question our need for police, courts, prison. When this year’s Black Lives Matter protests started, I was quite taken aback by calls to abolish police and prisons. Abolish racism, definitely. But I’d say improve police training, hold violent police more accountable. I’ll be honest, the idea of abolishing the police scared me. I’ll be even more honest: it still does. I can’t say this book has completely changed my mind. However, this book is well written and thought provoking, and has left me feeling like it’s not as straightforward as I thought it was.

This book is surprisingly readable. It taught me a lot about the “prison industrial complex” in the United States, which is to the best of my knowledge quite different to here in Australia. It made me reflect on what it might be like not to trust police instinctively. Of course, I expect “good” and “bad” people everywhere, and know that some police would abuse their powers. But as a white, middle class, educated, working woman in Australia, I do indeed naturally see police as, for the most part, on my side. I’ve also never questioned the need for prisons. Sure, I think there are people in them who don’t deserve it, but no, it has never occurred to me to question whether or not some people need to be locked away. This book calls on statistics about recidivism to suggest that prison is not preventing various crimes, and therefore is not serving any purpose except pure punishment. It also points out that social inequities lead to certain people being more likely to end up in the system thus showing how it can be perpetuating racism, classism and other prejudices.

As a healthcare worker, the most difficult part of this book for me was reading about other “institutions” like child services, foster care, substance use and mental health services. I wouldn’t have said we’ve got all this right. I know the system has problems. But it’s a hard sell to suggest we should be without these systems entirely.

I’m glad I read this book. As I mentioned, I will be thinking about it and talking about it for some time to come, as I work out exactly where I stand.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in return for my honest opinion.