I really wonder about what people thought of that then. Did people really think it was a medical thing, or was this just a socialy respectable way for a man who couldn’t get his wife off to pass the task on to someone who could perform the task with an air of medical respectability?
Comment on Women would rather do drugs than go to therapy
Dasus@lemmy.world 3 days agoThey’re exactly looking to be treated for hysteria.
While the word know just means frantic and sort of crazed and can be applied to anyone, it’s originally about having a womb. From the greek word for a womb.
You’re obviously right that them getting sent to an asylum or getting their brain poked through their eye (although lobotomy wouldn’t be invented for like 30-40 years from their date) would be horrible.
But she’s also right that they did indeed used to “jerk off” female patients as a treatment for hysteria. Then the doctors got lazy about rubbing and fingering women until climax, so they invented the vibrator. I may be taking a few liberties with the story so Google it yourself to verify the historicity.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Dasus@lemmy.world 2 days ago
I actually googled it a bit, and idk when “hysteria” widened to include men as well, but the very first inventor of a vibrator for medical purposes said he wouldn’t use his “percuteur” for women as that would not be fitting. But he was a religious man afaik.
There were all sorts of galvanic stimulators and whatnot so I don’t think they were all as prudes as we might think.
hateisreality@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Is that why hysterectomy is removing the uterus is it tied to being hysterical?
Dasus@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I’m thinking a bit of both, but “definitely” to the first.