The Concept of Hysteria and Its Impact on Women

The notion of "hysteria" played a significant role in the perception and treatment of women's mental health in the early 20th century, providing context for works like A Streetcar Named Desire.

Origin and Definition of Hysteria

Vocabulary: The term "hysteria" originates from the Greek word "hystera," meaning uterus or womb.

Hysteria was a common medical diagnosis for women, encompassing a wide range of symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Sexual desire
• Sexually forward behavior
• A "tendency to cause trouble for others"

Historical Context

The diagnosis and treatment of hysteria were routine practices in Western Europe for hundreds of years. It was considered both common and chronic among women.

Highlight: Ironically, the symptoms of hysteria were often synonymous with normal female sexuality and behavior.

Treatment and Consequences

In extreme cases, women diagnosed with hysteria faced severe consequences:

• Forced admission to insane asylums
• Undergoing hysterectomies

The American Psychiatric Association did not remove the term "hysteria" from its diagnostic manual until the 1950s.

Feminist Reinterpretation

By the 1980s, feminist scholars began to reexamine the concept of hysteria:

Definition: Feminists proposed that "hysteria" was actually a manifestation of sexual repression and a form of rebellion against oppressive social roles imposed on women.

This reinterpretation viewed hysteria as a response to women's oppressed social roles, rather than a result of their bodies or psyches. It highlighted the cultural myths of femininity and male domination that contributed to the diagnosis.

Understanding this historical context is crucial when analyzing works like A Streetcar Named Desire, where characters' behaviors and societal reactions can be viewed through the lens of these evolving attitudes towards women's mental health.

The Case of Carrie Buck and Forced Sterilization

The story of Carrie Buck and her family illustrates the extreme measures taken against those deemed "mentally unfit" in early 20th century America, providing crucial context for A Streetcar Named Desire and similar works of the period.

Emma Buck's Commitment

Emma Buck, Carrie's mother, was committed to a mental institution based on accusations of:

• Immorality
• Prostitution
• Having syphilis

Carrie Buck's Institutionalization

Carrie Buck, Emma's daughter, was also committed to a mental institution:

• She became pregnant at seventeen as a result of rape
• Her pregnancy was used as justification for her commitment

Forced Sterilization

The Buck family's treatment highlights the practice of eugenics in the United States:

Highlight: Carrie Buck was forcibly sterilized after her commitment, a practice aimed at preventing those deemed "unfit" from reproducing.

Carrie's sister, Dora, was also sterilized during an appendectomy, further demonstrating the systematic nature of these practices.

Broader Implications

The Buck family's experience reflects broader societal attitudes and practices of the time:

• The use of mental health institutions as a means of social control
• The targeting of vulnerable populations, particularly women, for forced sterilization
• The intersection of mental health diagnoses with moral judgments and social norms

Understanding these historical practices provides essential context for analyzing literature of the period, including A Streetcar Named Desire, where characters' behaviors and societal reactions can be viewed through the lens of these oppressive attitudes and practices.

Example: In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche DuBois's eventual institutionalization can be seen as part of this broader pattern of using mental health diagnoses to control and marginalize women who didn't conform to societal expectations.

This historical background enriches our understanding of the social and psychological dynamics at play in works like A Streetcar Named Desire, allowing for a more nuanced analysis of character motivations and societal reactions.

Attitudes to Mental Illness in 1940s America

The 1940s marked a significant period in the treatment of mental illness in America, largely influenced by the work of activist Dorothea Dix. Her efforts led to substantial changes in the care of the mentally ill, though these changes were not without their own set of problems.

Dorothea Dix's Influence

Dorothea Dix, a prominent reformer, played a crucial role in improving conditions for the mentally ill. Her lobbying efforts resulted in the U.S. government funding the construction of 32 large state psychiatric hospitals, commonly known as asylums, by 1880.

Highlight: Dix's work was initially seen as a positive step towards better care for the mentally ill, as it provided a structured environment for treatment.

Rise of Asylums

The number of asylum patients increased dramatically over the years:

• In 1889, there were approximately 40,000 patients in American asylums.
• By 1923, this number had skyrocketed to 263,000.

This surge led to the construction of more and larger asylums to accommodate the growing patient population.

Societal Factors

Several societal factors contributed to the increased use of asylums:

1. Urbanization and class mixing led to less tolerance from the bourgeoisie.
2. Capitalist economic structures eroded traditional family and community support systems.
3. Asylums became a way to remove "unproductive" members from the labor market.

Example: Men were often considered mentally ill due to external factors like financial hardships, while women were more likely to be diagnosed based on personal or internal issues such as lost love or family history.

Misuse of Mental Health Labels

The concept of insanity was often misapplied to various groups deemed "undesirable" by society:

Highlight: Many individuals without mental illnesses were committed to asylums, including:

• Homosexuals $considered mentally ill until 1973$
• Prostitutes
• Sexually forward women
• Unmarried women
• Immigrants
• Other "social undesirables"

This misuse of mental health diagnoses highlights the intersection of mental illness in A Streetcar Named Desire with broader societal prejudices and control mechanisms.