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Asylums always bring up images of horror. Whether in pop culture or fall haunted attractions, the stories around asylums are never good. Asylums were created as places to care for the mentally ill, but eventually turned into institutions that took advantage of a vulnerable population AND found ways to punish women for being too ambitious or independent. Join us this week to explore the history of asylums, the good and the bad, and how women were impacted by these psychiatric hospitals from their creation to now.

Feminist Corner:

• How does the treatment of psychiatric patients today differ or is similar to this history?
• How can we protect women but also advocate for them to get the appropriate help they need?
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Listen to the episode, discuss these questions with friends and family, let us know what you think!

Show Notes:

Early Asylums and Moral Treatment: The early asylums were primarily reserved for the wealthy, who could afford the specialized care they provided. Spearheaded by the Quakers of Philadelphia, these institutions initially focused solely on housing mentally ill patients, often resorting to inhumane methods such as physical restraints. However, a pivotal shift occurred with the introduction of “moral treatment,” championed by figures like William Tuke and Philippe Pinel. This humane approach emphasized kindness, rationality, and respect in patient care, laying the groundwork for community-based therapy and rehabilitation centers.

Impact of Investigative Journalism and Advocacy: Journalist Nellie Bly’s undercover exposé at a New York mental hospital and Dorothea Dix’s relentless advocacy for humane treatment played crucial roles in exposing the abuses within asylums and spurring reform efforts. Their efforts led to increased public funding and legislative changes aimed at improving conditions for the mentally ill.

Decline of Asylums and Legacy of Deinstitutionalization: Despite initial strides towards humane treatment, asylums eventually succumbed to overcrowding and a resurgence of inhumane practices. Insulin shock therapy, lobotomies, and electroconvulsive therapy became commonplace, perpetuating a cycle of suffering for patients. The horrors endured by patients at institutions like Bedlam and Willowbrook underscored the urgent need for reform.

Gender and Racial Dynamics in Asylums: Women, particularly those deemed assertive or independent, were disproportionately admitted to asylums, often subjected to brutal treatments aimed at quelling their perceived defiance. Moreover, women of color faced compounded discrimination and abuse within these institutions, reflecting pervasive societal biases and racism.

Reflections on Society and Mental Health Care: The history of asylums offers a sobering reflection on societal attitudes towards mental illness and gender. It highlights the intersectionality of oppression and the systemic injustices faced by marginalized communities, both within and outside of psychiatric institutions.

Sources:

Bethlem Royal Hospital: History & why it was called Bedlam. (n.d.). HistoryExtra. Retrieved from https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/bethlem-royal-hospital-history-why-called-bedlam-lunatic-asylum/

Crimereads. (n.d.). The dark history of Willowbrook State School. Retrieved from https://crimereads.com/the-dark-history-of-willowbrook-state-school/

Famous Scientists. (n.d.). Philippe Pinel. Retrieved from https://www.famousscientists.org/philippe-pinel/

Mental asylum. (n.d.). Science Museum Group. Retrieved from https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/medicine/victorian-mental-asylum#:~:text=The%20origins%20of%20the%20asylum,-The%20mental%20asylum&text=The%20word%20asylum%20came%20from,in%20the%20City%20of%20London.

Nellie Bly. (n.d.). National Women’s History Museum. Retrieved from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/nellie-bly-0

Nurses’ institutions and caring. (n.d.). University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Retrieved from https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/history-of-psychiatric-hospitals/

Psychiatry’s dark past: What psychiatry can teach us about medicine’s future. (n.d.). Time. Retrieved from https://time.com/6074783/psychiatry-history-women-mental-health/

Quakers in action: William Tuke. (n.d.). Quakers in the World. Retrieved from https://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/93/William-Tuke

The dark history of asylums. (n.d.). New Scientist. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/gallery/history-of-asylums/

The history of psychiatric hospitals. (n.d.). U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/diseases/professional.html

Women oppressed by psychiatry. (n.d.). The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/netflix-2017/how-victorian-women-were-oppressed-through-the-use-of-psychiatry/1607/

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