Abstract
American women in the 1950’s and 60’s began to experience a major upswing in diagnoses of mental illnesses characterized under the umbrella of “anxiety.” Sexism in the field of psychiatry as well as the sexism inherent in society helped to assign abnormality to any woman who resisted or experienced dissatisfaction in the fulfilment of traditionally female gender roles. This resulted in medications like benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, and psychoactive drugs being prescribed at an unprecedented rate. Film during this era simultaneously portrayed the perfect wife and mother and normalized the use of drugs or alcohol to help her abide her daily responsibilities in the home. Much research has been conducted on American women’s dissatisfaction with the expectations placed upon them and the propagation of oppressive stereotypes. However, current research does not make the connection between the phenomenon of sexism in psychiatry and society, traditional gender role expectations as portrayed in film during the 1950’s and 60’s, and the rise in the medication of American women. This research explores the role of films produced during this era in the normalization of medicating America’s women.
How to Cite
Graham, K., (2019) ““Running From the Shelter of the Pill:” The Role of Film in the Medication of America’s Women”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 32(2).
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