Deinstitutionalization and women: Assessing the consequences of public policy.

This review and analysis of the literature draws attention to some specific ways in which a major public policy initiative has affected the lives of both chronically mentally ill women and women who have been charged with the responsibility of caring for the chronically mentally ill. Special effects of deinstitutionalization on mentally ill women are evident in such areas as sexual exploitation and violence homelessness diversion into the criminal justice system and stigmatization. In addition a group of studies points to special circumstances pertaining to sexual behavior and reproductive control in a deinstitutionalized female population. To some extent expectations of womens behavior based on societal role definitions have affected service planning for this population. The use of such criteria for program planning runs the risk of injuring patients of both sexes. More conceptual work and research are needed in this area. However because deinstitutionalization is an exceedingly complex phenomenon we must remain sensitive to the wide variety of circumstances that contribute to its outcomes. (authors)