Samhällets intresse i sinnesslövården : en studie av Statens uppfostringsanstalt för sinnesslöa flickor 1924-1968

Sammanfattning: The State Institution for Education of Feebleminded Girls was one of the two swedish educational institutions established under state management in the 1920s and came to be the starting point for further government operations for the mentally deficient. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the activities of the State Institution for Education of Feebleminded Girls, out of what needs the institution filled in Sweden’s care for the mentally deficient. The institution has tried to be understood from the view of eugenics and the perspective of children that was current during the 1900s first half.To fulfill the purpose of the study, the archives for the State Institution for Education of Feebleminded Girls was studied and analyzed with basis of previous research on Sweden’s care for the mentally deficient and the impact from eugenics and Sweden’s child perspective.The study shows that the State Institution for Education of Feebleminded Girls mostly existed to educate students and adapt them to the community, which the institution did by education, disciplinary interventions and sterilizations. It is found in the study that the institution didn’t have any regular care of individuals in any great extent, which is also consistent with what previous research have reported concerning Sweden’s care for the mentally deficient. The study further shows that the State Institution for Education of Feebleminded Girls was largely coloured by the perception of mentally deficient as a threat to society. It appears that the institution primarily focused upon the interests of society and therefore often reduced the individual's interests and autonomy.