Criminal Send Her to the Island
Dec 8, 2023
A young woman with no memory arrives at a boarding house causing concern. Discover the ease of committing individuals to mental asylums and the bias against nonconforming women. Nellie Bly's shocking undercover investigation reveals the horrors of the New York City lunatic asylum. Explore Roosevelt Island's history and amenities and the transformation of the old asylum into luxury apartments. Uncover inequality in criminal justice and the mistreatment of women at the asylum. Learn about Nellie Bly's legacy and her efforts to expose corruption.
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Undercover Reporter Committed As A Patient
- Nellie Bly posed as Nelly Brown and got herself committed to the New York City lunatic asylum on Blackwell's Island.
- She experienced the intake, the cold treatment, and the locked bars firsthand before revealing her identity.
Easy Commitment Fueled By Social Bias
- It was relatively easy in the 19th century to commit someone because police justices and a doctor's or priest's attestation sufficed.
- Stacy Horn connects these lax procedures to societal bias against women who didn't conform.
Moral Treatment Versus Institutional Reality
- 'Moral treatment' promised humane care with comfort, activities, and respect instead of brutal practices.
- The intention contrasted sharply with overcrowding and cost-cutting that soon turned the asylum into a failure.