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Born Broken: The Mistakes That Medicine Made
There have always been people who are different. Whether it is their sexuality, mental health, or their way of experiencing the world. Throughout history, perceptions of abnormality have changed for the better (much like fashion, though that hasn't improved all that much so that's probably a bad comparison - horrible fashion seems to be cyclical, much like the negative attitudes towards difference). There are still battles to be won, but on the whole, attitudes and treatment have improved. The aim of this collection is to represent the misunderstood and challenge those who hold prejudice. They are set in different decades to show improvement of treatment, however minor. In these stories, the most important message is for those who can relate to the characters and/or situations and for you to know that things have gotten better, and will continue to get better still.
100 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2014
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May 4, 2014
I received this as a Goodreads giveaway.
This book, while a quick read, contains some very powerful stories. It looks at what has been considered wrong in our society over the years, and how mental illness has been treated. From physicians abusing their power, parents blindly institutionalizing their children due to the embarrassment their "issues" may cause, to the "illness" that is homosexuality, Born Broken examines some of the history of mental illness. These stories are thought provoking, and will cause readers to question how mental illness has been, and is, treated by both medicine and society.
The author does not hold back in using language from the eras covered. This is not whitewashing mental illness, but expressing the stigmas associated with those considered to be wrong. The author even examines how those inside the asylum system may be ostracized by others depending on their condition. Though some stories may be difficult to read, the message stays and leaves a reader wondering what "deviant" behaviours are we still treating as mental illness.
This book, while a quick read, contains some very powerful stories. It looks at what has been considered wrong in our society over the years, and how mental illness has been treated. From physicians abusing their power, parents blindly institutionalizing their children due to the embarrassment their "issues" may cause, to the "illness" that is homosexuality, Born Broken examines some of the history of mental illness. These stories are thought provoking, and will cause readers to question how mental illness has been, and is, treated by both medicine and society.
The author does not hold back in using language from the eras covered. This is not whitewashing mental illness, but expressing the stigmas associated with those considered to be wrong. The author even examines how those inside the asylum system may be ostracized by others depending on their condition. Though some stories may be difficult to read, the message stays and leaves a reader wondering what "deviant" behaviours are we still treating as mental illness.
Displaying 1 of 1 review