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Many women are remembered for their roles in changing history, but few know about Evelyn Hooker. Evelyn began college in the 1920s. She excelled in her studies of psychiatry and mental health. The unusual nature of Evelyn's career is that despite society's disapproval, she spent her career focused on homosexuality.
Encouraged by a friend, Evelyn applied for and received a grant to study gay men. Her study focused on 30 homosexual men and 30 heterosexual men in a control group. What Evelyn aimed to prove was that homosexuality should not be considered a mental illness. Her goal was to have references to sexuality removed from mental health documentation. Evelyn achieved her goal, but it didn't happen until 30 years after her study was completed.
Author Gayle E. Pitman's biography of Evelyn Hooker presents a fascinating story of a woman determined to make a difference in the lives of homosexual individuals. Her battle to change the thinking of society is still an on-going fight for many, but we have her to thank for providing important documentation in the fight.
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