by Susanna Kaysen
a parallel universe in the sixties
Group 6: Women's Liberation and the Changing Role of Women in the Sixties
Your assignment is to examine American women's history in terms of gender roles, portrayals and stereotypes, and to apply this information to Susanna Kaysen's experiences as a female mental patient in the 1960's.
The narrator sums up her release from McLean in the following way: "Luckily, I got a marriage proposal and they let me out. In 1968, everybody could understand a marriage proposal." Another critic begins her review of Girl, Interrupted with the observation: "When women are angry at men, they call them heartless. When men are angry at women, they call them crazy" (Susan Cheever, "A Designated Crazy," The New York Times Book Review, June 20, 1993) At certain points the author even suggests that there is something comforting, and even seductive, about insanity.
- What do these passages say about the choices available to women at the time the events of the book took place? How might these choices be complicated by being a female mental patient?
- In what ways is Girl, Interrupted a book about the sexual constructs of madness? What role does the narrator's gender appear to have played in her diagnosis and treatment? How do gender relations inside McLean mirror those in the outside world
- What might make madness comforting to a young girl in the late 1960s--or, for that matter, to anyone at any time?
- Internet Women's History Sourcebook...scroll down the the section on Feminism...explore links to learn about the histroy of women's rights
- Women's History...overview article with in-text links
- The Women's Movement for Equal Rights in the 1960s and 1970s...an extremely comprehensive site...outlined by topic...contains links to other sites and information...very good resource, but you must be zealous and follow the links!
- Women's Rights in America...includes a timeline and links to other sites
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- Gender Stereotypes...historical outline that provides good topics for further research
- Overview of Vintage Fashion History of the 1950's...pictures and descriptions of what was fashionable for women in the 1950's
- Barbie...an article about the Barbie doll as a Reflection of the 1950's Culture
- Advertsising Strategies of the Era...article discussing gender portrayals in 1950's advertsisng
- Paper on Advertisements of the 1950's...university student paper that examines the portrayal of women in advertising..well done and informative
- Advertising and the Voice of Authority - Men Have It, Women Don't...this site contains a great deal of research and information about the portrayls of women in advertising...look through all the links...well worth the time
- Female Stereotypes in Mass Media...an informative outline
- Women in Film...short article about the portrayal of women throughout film history
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- Women's Liberation Movement...encyclopedia article that provides an clear overview of the movement...follow in-text links for additional information
- Feminist Chronicles...categorized timeline of the feminist movement sytarting in 1968
- Goals of the Women's Liberation Movement....essay that outlines the history and goals of women's lib in the U.S. and Europe
- The National Organization for Women's 1966 Statement of Purpose...co-authored by Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, and Dr. Pauli Murray, an African-American, Episcopal minister, this document outlines the objectives of NOW, a feminist organization
- The Women's Liberation Movement: An Insider's View...a personal perspective on the movement by the radical feminist Susan Brownmiller...worth reading!
- No More Miss America! (1968-1969)...about the 1968 demonstration against the Miss America Pagaent in Atlantic City...includes photographs...from Jo Freeman.com, site maintained by the well-known feminist scholar, speaker & author
- Documents From the Women's Liberation Movement...from Duke University's archival collection....an excellent research site...for hints on effective research, go to Women's Liberation Movement: Pathfinder for Sources in Duke Libraries
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