Medicine and War

Medicine and War 

Discuss ways in which the war impacted on men's health. What if anything do the responses tell us about the public's attitude to gender? 

Joanna Burke:

Main argument- The medical transition of viewing mental illness within the military, how it was dealt with and also how the experience of war realted to civilian expereience of malingering.

• Shell shock needed to be stuided as it "irrevocably blurred the rigid distinction made between the body and the mind" 
• Attitudes toward the mentally ill: 
  • the pervious attitude towards the mentally ill was changing as it was not longer acceptable to be labelled as a coward as morale would be wrecked.
  • Social division within the society: as higher class soliders were getting mentally ill hence change was called for
  • YET the war had little lasting impact on the attitudes toward male mental illness

The mentally ill started to be treated as though it was a disease of the 'will' rather than of 'nerve force'. Men became more blame worthy for thier illnesses.

As there was a…