This paper presents the results of an investigation about the ressignification process of gender identities by imprisoned women in a female prison, in the North of Paraná State - South Brazil. The data analyses of semi-structured interviews showed that is possible to identify negotiated, desired or negated identities as well as identity conflicts caused by their own realities and cultures, lower-socio-economic level, dysfunctional families, low literacy level, besides prison stigma. The analyses show that representations and identities re-built in the prison environment, especially those of prison and society, reinforce the construction of stigmas which may contribute to create reoccurring imprisonments. Prisons should be revaluated as a place for inclusion, social rehabilitation and re-insertion intro society through specific projects, in which writing should be included, considering it's social role in this context.
identities; social representation; gender; writing