A Memoir of Contested Illness That Takes On the Legacy of Hysteria
Hannah Zeavin (History, UC Berkeley) is a scholar whose work centers on the history of the human sciences (psychoanalysis, psychology, and psychiatry), the history of technology and media, and feminist science and technology studies. She is the author of The Distance Cure: A History of Teletherapy (2021) and Mother's Little Helpers: Technology in the American Family (forthcoming).
Hannah has recently published a deep dive to The New Yorker on Emily Wells' début memoir, “A Matter of Appearance,”. In the article titled, "A Memoir of Contested Illness That Takes On the Legacy of Hysteria" Hannah examines how, in her compelling debut memoir, "A Matter of Appearance," Emily Wells navigates the complex terrain of chronic illness, where the line between physical and mental health often blurs, and the performance of pain becomes a means of survival. Wells unveils the intricate dance between patients and doctors, shedding light on the struggles faced by those with contested illnesses, especially women, whose symptoms are frequently dismissed as mere psychological distress.