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Questions for Tues. September 7, 2021
1. Tomes tells us that Lasch and Katz felt that asylums were instruments of social control that fostered a “single standard of citizenship” which worked well in a rapidly industrializing society. She also explains how they felt asylum treatments were nothing more than “scientific rationalizations of middle-class morality.” (10) It seems that Foucault, Lasch, and Katz all believed asylums were not necessarily good innovations. What do you think? Where asylums an integral part of 19th century America or just a way to “warehouse” social deviants?
2. Tomes Introduction calls asylums: “institutions sanctioned by the whole society to meet certain commonly perceived needs.” (12) To what needs is she referring?
Submitted by Bonnie Akkerman I pledge…