At the Crossroads of Top-down and Bottom-up Perspectives: Prison Policies, Rehabilitation Programs, and Gender in Peru

The article offers an in-depth analysis of the intersection between penitentiary policies, gender dynamics, and rehabilitation programs for women in Peru. Drawing on Latin American literature about co-governance in prisons, the paper emphasizes the importance of examining both formal–institutional and informal–customary dimensions of prison governance. It argues that understanding the implementation of gender equality policies requires attention to both top-down and bottom-up initiatives. The top-down dimension, linked to formal authority, is explored through three key public documents from the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE), which guide resocialization processes. These documents reflect a recent but inconsistent integration of gender, often limited to a binary framework that positions women as passive victims and caregivers. In contrast, the bottom-up dimension reveals how daily practices challenge this narrative. The experiences of Medalith, a former prisoner who built a micro-entrepreneurship in the prison, and Sofia, an INPE psychologist, exemplify grassroots efforts that reshape the gender discourse within prisons. Their actions highlight agency, solidarity, and collective resistance, enriching the limited formal representations of imprisoned women. This dual perspective underscores the need for a more nuanced, dynamic understanding of gender within the Peruvian penal system, where lived experiences can transform institutional norms and policies.