Abstract
This study employs a convict criminology perspective to examine some of the problems and issues related to female correctional officers working in male prisons. The discussion, based on the retrospective writing of four ex-convict academics discussing their observations of women guarding men, represents what male prisoners report about women guards. The research asks the following questions: Do different presentation of self impact the effectiveness of women working as corrections officers in a men's prisons? How are women corrections officers perceived by male prisoners and co-workers? Policy recommendations are suggested to respect the concerns of male prisoners and improve the efficacy of female corrections officers.

Daniel S. Murphy, Ph.D.
Appalachian State University
Daniel S. Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Appalachian State University. He served time in Federal Bureau of Prisons, completed his PhD at Iowa State University and now is a member of the Board of Directors for FedCURE. His teaching and research are in the areas of criminological theory, prison issues, and criminal justice policy. E-mail: murphyds@appstate.edu

Charles M. Terry, Ph.D.
University of California, Irvine
Charles M. Terry served prison time in California and Oregon. He completed his PhD at The University of California-Irvine, and then worked as Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Michigan-Flint and St. Louis University. His work includes numerous journal articles and The Fellas: Overcoming Prison and Addiction. E-mail: chuckt1952@yahoo.com

Greg Newbold, Ph.D.
University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Greg Newbold is a Senior Lecturer (tenured professor) in sociology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the late 1970s he served a prison sentence for drug dealing, three years of which was served in maximum security. Having received an MA on prison sociology while in prison, after his release he completed a PhD with a dissertation on the history of the New Zealand maximum-security prison. Newbold has written numerous articles and books on crime and criminal justice and is frequently consulted by the media, police, and correctional authorities. His most recent books include Crime in New Zealand (2000) and The Problem of Prisons: Corrections Reform in New Zealand (2007). E-mail: greg.newbold@canterbury.ac.nz

Stephen C. Richards, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Stephen C. Richards is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He served time in 9 federal prisons, including United States Penitentiaries, Federal Correctional Institutions, and Federal Prison Camps. Released from federal prison in 1987, he completed his M.A. in Sociology (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1989) and Ph.D. in Sociology (Iowa State University, 1992). His work has appeared in numerous academic journals. His most recent books include Behind Bars: Surviving Prison and Convict Criminology (with Jeffrey Ian Ross). Richards is a Soros Senior Justice Fellow, serves on the board of Fed CURE, and is a member of the American Society of Criminology National Policy Committee. E-mail: richarsc@uwosh.edu