engleski

Teaching the history of psychosocial consequences of sexual violence in the context of female psychiatric patients

Research conducted on the medical records of female patients treated at the Royal Institute for the Mentally Ill in Stenjevec, the first Croatian psychiatric hospital, dating from the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, has shown that female patients were often physically, mentally and sexually abused. Contents of the analyzed archival material show that a large number of female patients were sexually exploited in the workplace, in the “gray zone” of work, and that it is likely that these experiences contributed to the development of symptoms of their mental illness. Risk factors for sexual violence were their gender and age, low socio-economic and educational status. They either did not report sexual offenses, or the legislature did not punish the perpetrators. The history of sexual violence against women who have been treated in psychiatric hospitals for the psychosocial consequences of these traumatic experiences has hitherto not been considered in history classes. It may be important to include this issue in history lessons as it would contribute to understanding the social position of women members of vulnerable groups in patriarchy. It is suggested that the classes be taught by history professors who have undergone professional education on strategies for gender-sensitive portrayal of the trauma of women victims of sexual violence. The aim of engaging in these educational processes is to avoid further development of distorted perceptions, prejudices and myths on sexual violence against women.

Female psychiatric patients, psychosocial consequences, history of psychiatry, sexual violence, sexuality, teaching history

S obzirom da časopis u kojem je objavljen ovaj članak nije evidentiran na popisu časopisa koje CROSBI nudi nije moguće navesti podatke o indeksiranosti istoga. Riječ je visokorangiranom znanstvenom časopisu kojeg izdaje Taylor&Francis Group.