Reclaiming forgotten family through feminist disability studies research

Professor Christin L. Hancock’s latest book, “Unmentionable Madness,” made its UP debut Jan. 23

By Samantha Zavala | January 30, 2025 9:00am
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Professor Christin Hancock reads from her newly released book
Media Credit: Evan Guerra / The Beacon

During the spring of 2016, while on her first sabbatical, history and gender, women and sexuality studies professor and Academic Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences Christin L. Hancock embarked on a research journey to explore her great-aunt Mabel Smith’s story. 

At 28 years old, Smith was institutionalized at Central State Hospital in Indiana and died shortly after. But, Hancock’s research uncovers more about Smith’s life and legacy.

Professor Christian Hancock's "Unmentionable Madness" sits on display at her book launch event at the bookstore
by Evan Guerra / The Beacon

On Jan. 23, the Garaventa Center hosted Hancock’s book launch at the UP bookstore. The event highlighted Hancock’s new book, “Unmentionable Madness: Gender, Disability, and Shame in the Malaria Treatment of Neurosyphilis,” a culmination of her nine-year-long research on Smith’s life story. 

The launch event was free and open to UP and Portland community members, and it included a short reading of the book followed by a Q&A with Hancock. 

Using medical records from the Indiana State Archives, Hancock pieced together the story of multiple patients who, alongside Smith, were purposely exposed to the malaria virus to cure their neurosyphilis during the 1930s. Hancock’s research falls under the category of feminist disability history.

“I really think disability history helps us to understand who we are as people,” Hancock said. “It also helps us understand intersectionality at a deeper level.”

During the book launch, Hancock first read excerpts, giving the audience a glimpse into her research. 

“By the end of her life, the only thing that Mabel Smith remembered was that she had given birth to a baby who had lived for five minutes,” Hancock said at the event. “The indelible mark of this memory on the mind of a woman who is experiencing severe mental impairment powerfully suggests the impact of pregnancy and childbirth on women's lives.”

After the reading, Hancock opened the floor to the crowd for questions on feminist disability research and the writing process. 

In response to a question on reading about the medical maltreatment of someone related to her, Hancock explained how having a personal connection to Smith motivated her research approach.

“I think maybe having Mabel [Smith] helped me to approach it from the perspective of wanting to provide this voice and restore some dignity to people who were not treated with dignity in their lifetime,” Hancock said at the event.

Professor Christin Hancock speaks to the crowd about her book, "Unmentionable Madness"
by Evan Guerra / The Beacon

Stephanie Vasquez, a senior political science and economics double major, attended the book launch because of her interest in the book. Vasquez says she admires Hancock’s research into the field of disability history.

“It was interesting to see how her history with her family ties in with disability,” Vasquez said. “I feel like that's a part of history that's not really talked about.”

Senior history major Gavin Rodriguez echoes Vasquez’s sentiments and also says Hancock has inspired him to research new topics related to intersectionality.

“[Hancock] has sparked a new interest in me, introducing me to all these topics that I never knew about,” Rodriguez said. “And I think she truly seeks justice in her classes and in her work.”

Hancock concluded the event by expressing hope that people will research their family histories and bring light to stories often forgotten.

“I think if everybody looked into your disabled ancestors and told their stories, that would be a beautiful thing,” Hancock said at the event. “Relineate them and stitch them back into your family history.”

Samantha Zavala is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at zavala27@up.edu

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