Prisonization at a distance: Gender, financial dynamics, and stigma in digitally mediated relationships of Russian “Zaochnitsy”

This article investigates how gender roles, economic practices, and social stigma are formed in the digital romantic relationships of Russian women ( zaochnitsy ) with incarcerated men. Based on interviews with 20 participants, the study reveals how the penal system profoundly affects women's intimacy, home life, and identity. The research foregrounds the paradoxical situation where women exercise substantial practical and financial authority in the relationship yet often uphold traditional narratives of male symbolic power. Partners must navigate the logistical and emotional challenges of separation while simultaneously managing associated social stigma. They achieve this by rationalizing their situation through conventional romantic narratives, rather than viewing the relationship as deviant. The article demonstrates how penal logic and institutional discipline permeate domestic life, thereby extending scholarly literature on prisonization and intimate relationships. The findings contribute novel insights into adaptive financial strategies, ambivalent gender contracts, and stigma management within the context of contemporary Russian carceral relationships.