Hidden Power & False Expectations is a book at the intersection of urban mission, mass incarceration, and communication theory. Muting, the silencing of the voices of the less powerful, is a phenomenon found within every mission context. How is it that we unintentionally silence the very people we are intending to minister to? And what can we do to change this unhelpful reality? Dr. Barkman addresses these important questions in Hidden Power and False Expectations: Muted Group Theory for Urban Mission, where she blends her personal experiences and innovative research in exploring these issues. Illustrated with fascinating stories about life and ministry in a California women’s prison, Hidden Power and False Expectations introduces Muted Group Theory as a valuable communications tool, especially for urban mission practitioners.