Fighting forward: the role of activism in managing stigma and building capital for formerly incarcerated people

Reentry is frequently marked by structural barriers and enduring stigma. Yet, formerly incarcerated activists harness activism as a powerful strategy to build social, cultural, and symbolic capital while reimagining their identities on their own terms. Drawing on interviews with 32 formerly incarcerated activists, this study explores how activism mitigates stigma, cultivates professional skills, broadens social networks, and opens pathways to upward mobility. Despite ongoing criminalization, activism positions individuals as credible leaders in justice reform. This research highlights activism as a vital—but often overlooked—mechanism of reentry, emphasizing agency, resistance, and personal and political transformation in the lives of criminalized people.