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  • Essay / It wasn't hysteria; It was institutionalized sexism

    For hundreds of years, women were subjected to several invasive, unethical, and sexist practices, one of which was referred to as “female hysteria.” Female hysteria was a medical diagnosis used to identify and treat women who exhibited symptoms of: causing trouble, having erotic thoughts, and irritability. This vintage metal sign was found in the basement of an antique store among a pile of other retro signs. The expression; “Oh, I’m sorry. You must confuse me with the servant we don't have. » would not have been tolerated eighty years ago and would have led to serious consequences, for example placement in an institution. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay At first glance, it seemed like an innocent comedic sign, but once analyzed, it was obvious that there was a much deeper message. The question that came to my mind after further analysis was: “How did this unethical and scandalous social institution convince not only society, but also women, that it was acceptable for someone to dictate and violate a woman's mind and body? For a long time, women were conditioned to think that institutionalized sexism was normal and that it was normal to grow up believing that they deserved to be treated as subordinate to men. Perhaps these diagnoses are not only a reflection of women's health, but also a reflection of society's labeling of feminine characteristics, or the result of institutionalized sexism (William et al, p#382) . Additionally, there has been a tendency over time to fabricate stories to explain feminine characteristics. The history of female hysteria dates back to 1900 BC, when women were diagnosed with a "wandering womb", the belief that a displaced uterus could cause psychological and physical illnesses in women. Fast forward to the 17th century, where hysteria was commonly associated with demonic possession. In the 19th century, when female hysteria was classified as a neurological disorder and not a physical one, the cure for this condition was "pelvic massage." Women were frequently diagnosed with hysteria, and to be treated they had to see a doctor in order to induce a hysterical paroxysm. After male doctors began complaining of fatigue and wrist pain from this "necessary" form of treatment, the medical association introduced a vibrating tool to aid treatment while relieving doctors of their "misery ". It was not until the 20th century that female hysteria was considered a catch-all diagnosis and was no longer recognized as an illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Additionally, treatments for hysteria over time have gotten to the point of physically harming women. . Doctors performed ovioratomies, hysterectomies, and clitoridectomies, with the sole aim of curing a woman's hysteria. One of the main solutions to this problem has been feminism. The first wave of feminism occurred in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when women fought for the right to vote and therefore no longer had to submit to men's rules. The second wave of feminism, from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, consisted of women fighting for their freedom, control over their lives, and equal opportunities. One of the main reasons why the idea of ​​female hysteria was abandoned was the..