A history of lesbian politics and the psy professions

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between lesbian activists and the “psy professions” (especially psychology and psychiatry) in England from the 1960s to the 1980s. We draw on UK-based LGBTQIA+ archive sources and specifically magazines produced by, and for, lesbians. We use this material to identify three key strategies used within the lesbian movement to contest psycho-pathologisation during this 30-year period: from respectable collaborationist forms of activism during the 1960s; to more liberationist oppositional politics during the early 1970s; to radical feminist separatist activism in the 1980s. Whilst these strategies broadly map onto activist strategies deployed within the wider lesbian and gay movement during this time, this article explores how these politics manifested in particular ways, specifically in relation to the psy disciplines in the UK. We describe these strategies, illustrating them with examples of activism from the archives. We then use this history to problematise a linear, overly reductionist or binary history of liberation from psycho-pathologisation. Finally, we explore some complexities in the relationship between sexuality, activism and the psy professions.

Lesbian and bisexual women's experiences of aversion therapy in England

“…Moreover, there were few alternatives available for women to view their sexuality in alternative and more positive ways ( Jennings, 2008 ). After all, this predated the emerging gay and women's liberation movements, which challenged the oppression of homosexuality and female sexuality, and contested its pathologisation and treatment ( Spandler and Carr, 2021 ). At the same time, our research suggests these women were not simply victims of aversion therapy, but some were also able to exert some control over their lives, despite these treatments (see also Davison, 2020b ).…”

“…It also contributes to recent attempts to highlight lesbian activism in the UK, both inside and outside the mental health professions, to contest the psychiatric pathologisation of homosexuality (e.g. Hubbard, 2019;Hubbard and Griffiths, 2019;Spandler and Carr, 2021). As a result, it is part of a broader 'hidden from history' project (Duberman, Vicinus, and Chauncey, 1989), which aims to recover and preserve LGBTQIA+ history, women's history, and mental health service user/survivor history.…”

“…This article is an output from our research project about the ‘treatment’ of female homosexuality in the English mental health system in the post-war period, when homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder ( Carr and Spandler, 2019 ; Spandler and Carr, 2020 , 2021 ). Whilst there is some relevant research about the broader history of psychiatry, psychology, and homosexuality, especially in the US (e.g.…”

Lesbian Community and Activism in Britain 1940s–1970s: An Interview with Cynthia Reid

“…In fact, her psychiatrist put her in contact with other lesbian women and introduced her to the lesbian club The Gateways (see Gardiner, 2003 ; Jennings, 2006 for further details). Such accounts go further to illustrate the complex history of the psy disciplines with queer people (see Dickinson, 2015 ; Hegarty, 2017 ; Hubbard & Griffiths, 2019 ; Spandler & Carr, 2020 ).…”

“… 14. See Davison ( 2021 ); Dickinson ( 2015 ), Hubbard ( 2020 ), Hubbard and Griffiths ( 2019 ), Jennings ( 2008 ) and Spandler and Carr ( 2020 ), for further exploration about the historical relationships between Psychology/Psychiatry and queer communities at this time. …”