Healing Through Self Domination By Cushman

   In this chapter, Cushman discusses the two major views of madness that shaped the principles of asylums throughout to eighteenth and nineteenth century. These views were the loss of reason, created in the eighteenth century and the lack of self-discipline, created in the nineteenth century (102). Women within these eras were viewed as the representation of irrationality, they were more emotional, fragile, passive, sexually excessive, and dangerous if not controlled (107). Doctors and psychiatrist of these times blamed many psychological issues on the biology of women. Many of these issues were linked with hysteria or an “irritated or infected uterus” (106). Women were taught to conquer their female nature, accept her place in society, and dominate and control he inherently irrational, potentially dangerous nature. Unlike most psychologist of his time, Freud knew that domination itself was problematic. He believe too much oppression and dominance would lead to chaos and disasters (113). Freud argued that the self was actually not in control, it was constantly influenced by unconscious forces, the mind versus body.  Women today have more control of who they are, they have more opportunity to express anger, rage, etc. without being like to biological or psychological illnesses. However, women today are still oppressed in multiple ways, and yet we as a society turn a blind eye to the oppression that physically and emotionally harm women as a gender and as individuals.

Cushman, P. (n.d.). Healing Through Self Domination. In Constructing the Self, Constructing America (pp. 102-116).