La sexualité, l’institution psychiatrique et la normalisation du malade mental Sexuality, psychiatric institution and normalization of the mentally ill

Résumé

Le choix de notre sujet d'étude est motivé par la relation curieuse qui existe entre la sexualité et l'institution. En prenant le geste sexuel comme référence, il ne semble pas exister de relation entre ces deux réalités. La sexualité est défendue et excluse des institutions d'éducation ou de réhabilitation. L'épuration et la sexualité de nos grandes institutions comme l'école, l'hôpital psychiatrique et la prison met en question la pertinence de notre sujet. Pourquoi s'attarder à l'étude des relations entre la sexualité et l'institution si la sexualité demeure à la porte de l'institution, si elle existe en autant qu'elle est hors les murs ? Notre intérêt pour cette question s'est développé à partir de nos interrogations sur l'exclusion de la sexualité de l'institution pédagogique et thérapeutique. Dans cet article, nous nous proposons premièrement de repérer le statut de la sexualité dans les institutions pédagogiques, deuxièmement d'examiner les dispositifs du contrôle de la sexualité et troisièmement d'esquisser une interprétation globale des liens entre la sexualité et l'institution.

SUMMARY

The author sets three objectives: to determine the status of sexuality in pedagogical institutions; to examine the means used to control sexuality; and to trace a global interpretation of the links between sexuality and the institution. The development of the asylum saw the appearance of moral treatment which sought to promote certain social values and to repress those behaviours such as sexual activity which opposed the fundamental bourgeois social virtues. These notions were presented in the guise of an ethical standard and a normative scientific current (eg. sexuality is a symptom to be eliminated; it is a cause of insanity.) Now, while no longer attacked in the institution, sexuality is nonetheless perceived as lacking any inherent value and is worthwhile only in terms of its therapeutic utility* The same phenomenon is observable in the school. To illustrate the second point the author analyses the phenomenon of masturbation. The 18th century saw masturbation cited as the cause of insanity and numerous physical disorders. Viewed as a diversion of the child's natural forms, and as bringing into question the substitutive educational system, masturbation was excluded from the school of the period. At present, masturbation is permitted but there is no recognition of the child's free enjoyment. Instead a system of exercises has been developped which permit the child greater body control. This masturbation has become a therapeutic technique to obtain a normative level of pleasure.Touching on the third point, the author states that society regulates sexual life with a complex normative system in order to incorporate it within an identification with sexual institutions and no longer with judicial sanctions. Applying this analysis to the situation of the mentally ill, the author argues that the latter's sexuality is socially normalized by the definition and utilisation of illegal areas where it's actualization is permitted.