Historical Hysteria

Historically, mental illness has often gone untreated or treated inadequately, especially in women. Our research examines the treatment shift in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We hope to bring about a greater understanding of the gendering of women’s mental illnesses by examining the social constructs that surrounded the illnesses. The literary focus is “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, written in 1892, centering the research in the late 19th century. We are examining this text to study the psychology of women’s mental illness and the societal aspects of why and how mental illness was gendered. The project will culminate in a documentary that will include primary sources such as images from the time, diaries, and accounts from women in treatment at the time. In addition, we are speaking to experts in the field and museum curators to augment our research