Imagine living in a world where being outspoken, curious, emotional, or simply “different” as a woman could earn you a sentence worse than prison — a life in a mental asylum, or worse, a lobotomy.
This was not fiction. From the 1800s through the mid-1900s, countless women — wives, daughters, sisters, aunts — were institutionalized not because they were insane, but because they were inconvenient. A husband who wanted control, a father ashamed of a rebellious daughter, or even a doctor with a pen and political connections could seal a woman’s fate. What is chilling is how ordinary this practice once was.
The Rise of Asylums in the 1800s
By the 19th century, mental asylums had become common in Europe and the United States. What started as places of reform often became warehouses for anyone society considered “troublesome.”
- Women who were too independent were diagnosed with “hysteria.”
- Symptoms of hysteria included everything from mood swings, menstrual cramps, or sexual desire to simply “nagging one’s husband.”
- Families could have women committed without much evidence — a simple signature was often enough.
According to medical historian Andrew Scull (Madness in Civilization, 2015), asylum records are filled with cases where women were admitted for reasons like “religious excitement,” “novel reading,” or “disobedience.”
The Era of Lobotomies
Fast-forward to the 20th century, and the invention of the lobotomy brought a new, brutal solution. Dr. Walter Freeman, infamous for his “ice pick lobotomies,” performed thousands across the U.S. between the 1930s and 1950s. The procedure involved severing connections in the brain’s frontal lobe, often leaving patients docile, childlike, or permanently impaired.
The Case of Rosemary Kennedy
Perhaps the most well-known victim was Rosemary Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy. Unlike her siblings, Rosemary struggled academically and socially. After attempts to “control” her at a convent failed, her father, Joseph Kennedy Sr., approved a lobotomy in 1941.
The result was devastating: the once lively young woman who dreamed of teaching became unable to speak coherently, reduced to grunts and shrieks, requiring institutional care for the rest of her life.
Rosemary’s story reflects the thousands of unnamed women whose lives were erased because they did not conform.
A Culture of Control
Women were often punished for traits celebrated in men: independence, ambition, passion, or even sexuality. Married women had little legal power; a husband could have his wife institutionalized with shocking ease.
In the 1950s, psychiatric journals still listed “rebellion against traditional roles” as a cause for treatment. What was seen as “madness” in women was often nothing more than frustration at systemic oppression.
From Then to Now: What Has Changed?
While lobotomies have been outlawed in most countries, and mental health care has advanced, echoes of these injustices remain.
- Women’s pain is still often dismissed in medicine — studies show women wait longer for pain treatment in ERs compared to men.
- Women with ADHD or autism are still underdiagnosed, their struggles mislabeled as “stress” or “emotional problems.”
- Until recently, women’s reproductive and sexual health was stigmatized in similar ways hysteria once was.
Today, we look back in horror at lobotomies, yet the broader issue remains: who gets to decide what is “normal”?
Why This History Matters
It’s easy to say, “That was then, this is now.” But the control of women’s bodies, voices, and choices has never been just history. It shifts shape — from hysteria diagnoses, to lobotomies, to modern debates about reproductive rights and gender roles.
The lesson is clear: societies that silence women under the guise of medicine or morality inevitably rob themselves of innovation, compassion, and truth.
References & Resources
- Andrew Scull, Madness in Civilization: A Cultural History of Insanity (2015)
- Jack El-Hai, The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness (2005)
- Howard Dully & Charles Fleming, My Lobotomy: A Memoir (2007)
- Medical archives of the 19th and 20th centuries documenting asylum admission criteria
About the Author
A.L. Childers (Audrey Childers) is a writer, researcher, and storyteller whose works uncover hidden histories and challenge accepted narratives. Raised in the South, she combines personal experience with in-depth research to shed light on the forgotten, the silenced, and the misunderstood.
Her latest book, The Hidden Empire: A Journey Through Millennia of Oligarchic Rule, explores how power structures have shaped society throughout history — and how those echoes still affect us today.
From asylums to lobotomies, women were silenced for being “different.” Learn how history shaped women’s rights — and why it still matters today.
About the Author
A.L. Childers (Audrey Childers) is a writer, researcher, and storyteller whose works uncover hidden histories and challenge accepted narratives. Raised in the South, she combines personal experience with in-depth research to shed light on the forgotten, the silenced, and the misunderstood.
Her latest book, The Hidden Empire: A Journey Through Millennia of Oligarchic Rule, explores how power structures have shaped society throughout history — and how those echoes still affect us today.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to provide medical, psychiatric, or legal advice. The historical examples and case studies referenced are based on documented sources, public records, and published works. Readers are encouraged to explore the suggested resources for further study. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and are not a substitute for professional advice.
References & Resources
- Scull, Andrew. Madness in Civilization: A Cultural History of Insanity. Princeton University Press, 2015.
- El-Hai, Jack. The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness. Wiley, 2005.
- Dully, Howard, and Charles Fleming. My Lobotomy: A Memoir. Crown, 2007.
- Pressman, Jack D. Last Resort: Psychosurgery and the Limits of Medicine. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
- Parry, Manon S. Broadcasting Birth Control: Mass Media and Family Planning. Rutgers University Press, 2013. (for cultural context around women’s control and “hysteria”)
- Historical records: National Library of Medicine digital archives; U.S. asylum admission records, 19th–20th century.
Author’s Note
As an author, I approach true survival stories with both reverence and responsibility. When I write about real people who have endured trauma, I don’t just collect facts — I live their lives on the page as I read and research. I feel their fear, their courage, and their resilience.
That’s what makes me different from other authors: I don’t treat survivor stories as headlines. I write with compassion, dignity, and a trauma-informed lens, making sure their humanity is honored above all else.
I believe in ethical storytelling — sharing true stories responsibly, with sensitivity and integrity, so readers can understand both the tragedy and the triumph without exploitation. My goal is to protect survivors while reminding readers that behind every survival miracle is a human being with a beating heart and a story worth respecting.
🔑 SEO Keywords naturally included: ethical storytelling, trauma-informed writing, survivor stories told with dignity, storytelling with compassion and integrity.
