Books About Women and Mental Illness

A short list of 5 books that discuss women who are afflicted by mental illness.

The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar was written by Sylvia Plath and first published one month before she took her own life. It is semi-autobiographical, paralleling many events and situations that took place in Plath's own life. The Bell Jar is often compared to The Catcher in the Rye as its female counterpart, but the story is much darker and more emotional. The protagonist also deals with more traumatizing events, such as hospitalization, shock therapy, suicide attempts, and mental illness is openly discussed. Aside from depression, the protagonist also faces challenges concerning a woman's place in the world of the 1950's and not wanting out of life what others expect from you.

And I Don't Want To Live This Life

And I Don't Want To Live This Life is an autobiography of Nancy Spungen of Sid & Nancy fame, written from the unique perspective of Nancy's mother, Deborah Spungen. The most interesting details of Nancy's life take place while she is still a child. She was diagnosed as being schizophrenic. As a child she would go into rages, cycle through different moods and personalities, and experience delusions. At one time she believed herself to be pregnant and attempted to terminate the pregnancy with a coat hanger. After being examined by a doctor, it was determined that she was in fact still a virgin. This book tells the tragic story behind the woman who is sometimes considered to be the world's most famous groupie.

Sybil

Sybil, written by Flora Rheta Schreiber, details the life of a woman who suffers with 16 separate personalities. The book is controversial, as the authenticity of the accounts have been contested, and the diagnosis of Multiple Personality Disorder has been disputed. Despite controversy, the book remains an interesting read for anyone interested in mental illness, especially in women.

The Yellow Wallpaper

Written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story that describes one woman's lonely descent into madness. It is considered to be one of the early feminist writings. The main character is a woman suffering from depression. Her husband, a physician, diagnoses her and confines her to a room as treatment. The only stimuli for the woman is the yellow wallpaper, which disgusts and frightens her. Her confinement exacerbates her mental state until she reaches full-fledged insanity. Some of the key themes are how women suffered in the 19th century from not having adequate rights concerning mental & physical health, self-expression, and the supposed superiority of men.

Girl, Interrupted

Ultimately I decided this list wouldn't be complete without including Girl, Interrupted. The memoir by Susanna Kaysen. Kaysen was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, but this disorder is not adequately discussed. This book is more about Kaysen's experience in a psychiatric hospital and the people she met while there. It is excellent at examining mental illness through an objective sociological lens.