The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe 454: Amie Ichikawa—You Can’t Bring a Vagina to a Penis Fight
Oct 14, 2025
Amie Ichikawa, a former inmate and founder of Woman II Woman, shares her compelling insights on the challenges faced by women in prison. She reveals the startling reality of intact men being housed in women’s facilities and the safety concerns surrounding it. Amie discusses the dehumanizing conditions within the prison system, the imbalances created by policy changes, and the ongoing struggle for justice and dignity. Her advocacy work highlights the need for awareness and action to protect incarcerated women.
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First Nights In Prison
- Amie Ichikawa described arriving at Central California Women's Facility after a multi-hour shackled bus ride and immediate dehumanizing processing.
- She recalled strip searches, being issued a mumu, and losing everyday dignity and privacy upon intake.
Crime, Arrest, And Time Served
- Ichikawa told how meeting a boyfriend led to escalating drug crimes and a kidnapping that ended in her arrest and multi-year sentence.
- She detailed the shock of being charged, interrogated, and ultimately serving almost five years with an 85% rule release.
Women’s Prison Social Structure
- Amie described women's prison culture as relational and familial, with pseudo-families forming across units.
- She noted that close quarters and trauma histories make women's incarceration dynamics very different from men's.