women use to be prone to hysteria-- you know the idea that they could think for themselves, make decisions, and be responsible for themselves, manage their own money and lives.

the 'cure' was confinement--usually they were locked up in their own houses,deprived of all access to money and outsiders. (or if poor, confined to mental hospitals till they got over the idea that they were capable of independant thought and action.)
the men in their lives did this to protect them from thinking--(the 'cause' of hysteria.)





my other obsession