92C. Gender Perceptions in the Twentieth Century led to Lobotomies of Women 

Lead Presenter(s)

Riley Garczynski

Abstract or Description

The 20th century, specifically the timeline from around 1930 to 1950, was a

revolutionary time in medicine that popularized the lobotomy procedure. Believed to sever the connection between impulse and action in the brain, the lobotomy became a solution to control abnormal behavior. At this time, gender roles and the expectations of men vs. women in society were strictly defined. However, much research does not investigate how these gender roles of the time led to women being frequently subjected to lobotomies. This project analyzes medical evaluations of female patients pre and post lobotomy. It also evaluates articles regarding the social expectations of women and views of women during the time as well as real life accounts of wives and daughters who received lobotomies and the decision process behind them. In understanding why women were targeted for the lobotomy procedure, the connection between society and medicine can be better understood. Overall, the ideas of gender and the views surrounding women of the time ultimately led to women unjustly being subjected to lobotomies due to false diagnoses of women, medical pressure by male doctors, and male consent on behalf of women in the early to mid- 20th century.

Mentor

Dr. Samantha Murphy