Internship Spotlight: Azul Garcia

Summer intern Azul Garcia joins us from the University of Rochester’s Schwartz Community-Based Internship Program. Azul studies psychology and legal studies at the University of Rochester. Between giving tours of the Anthony House, Azul has been working on a special research project entitled, “The History of Hysteria: Women’s Mental Health in the 19th and 20th Centuries.”

The purpose of this presentation is to understand how mental health issues were addressed during a time when women had limited rights and autonomy. The 19th and 20th centuries were an extremely formative period for women. Many women’s movements took place during this time, coming in waves that targeted suffrage, labor and workplace rights, bodily autonomy, and access to education. Recognizing the sexism embedded in the improper practices used to diagnose serious mental health issues during these centuries is the first step toward understanding and addressing the disparities women have faced in accessing mental health services, both then and now.