SONGS OF A CAGED BIRD: A GLIMPSE INTO THE BEING OF YOUTH INSIDE THE PRISON SYSTEM

Abstract

SONGS OF A CAGED BIRD: A GLIMPSE INTO THE BEING OF YOUTH INSIDE THE PRISON SYSTEM John Emmanuel Mendoza, Edward Daniel Mortalla, Laurence Lascuna Garcia* Cebu Normal University, Cebu 6000, Philippines *E-mail: garcial@cnu.edu.ph Abstract Understanding young inmates’ experiences are essential since their lives have been shaped by the impact of social exclusion. This study aimed to explore the meaning of the lived experiences of young adults inside the prison system. The phenomenological inquiry was utilized, which is grounded in Martin Heidegger’s philosophy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 to 29-year-old inmates incarcerated for at least one year. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, four themes emerged: An Unfamiliar Melody (with two subthemes: Humming with Frustrations and Tunes of Solitude); The Eyes Outside the Cage; Turning Over a New Feather; and If My Wings Unclipped. The “songs” of the caged bird tell about the “meanings” of restricted freedom--from being able to dip its wings in the orange sun rays down to being tied in chains. Being held inside a prison limits a person from experiencing life as they should. Opportunities to soar high were taken away. The consequences caused them the fragility of emotions: frustration, loneliness, and humiliation; yet, they still have a speck of hope. Keywords: frustration, phenomenology, prison system, young adult prisoners