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Despite the principle of gender-based segregation of incarcerated men and women, this empirical study conducted within all the Belgian prisons where both men and women are detained has shed light on practices of mixed-gendered regimes. By analyzing the discourse of prison staff and incarcerated individuals on these practices, the research examines the construction of gender relations within the prison and highlights the gender norms and expectations held by these actors. Four main themes are developed: gender segregation as a tool for managing the risk of gender-based violence, mixed-gender coexistence as a means of attenuating gender stereotypes, mixed-gender coexistence as a vector of equality for incarcerated women, and mixed-gender coexistence as an instrument of normalization and a contributing factor to diversity within the prison population.