You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
This is a very surprising book, perhaps because its prosaic title leads the hardened reader of research monographs to expect an indigestible meal of unexceptionable and unilluminating statistics. It is in fact an immensely readable study of thirty-two couples where both parties to the marriage are mentally handicapped and both have been patients for long or short periods at the same mental hospital. Using these thirty-two couples as her source material, Janet Mattinson has addressed herself to the question ‘Is marriage a viable proposition for the subnormal and their children?’ It is a question that must touch the hearts of many parents as immediately as it must touch the thinking of those welfare services which are charged with the care of the mentally handicapped.
By making extensive use of tape recordings, Janet Mattinson has enabled these couples to speak for themselves and what they have to say is a waste of time for no-one to listen to. It is utterly authentic; and as one reads a picture develops of their background, of their mutual relationships, of their fears and hopes, of their problems and achievements and satisfactions. Here is Mrs King speaking about her first child (p. 227):
‘Was that the first time you had intercourse with a man?’
‘Yes, s’pose it was. Yes, it was the first time I went out with a man and then intercourse. He said he wouldn't get me into trouble and he didn't; he didn't get me into trouble for about four months. I suppose. He was decent. When I was feeling sickified and wanted to see a period, I thought to myself, I feel sickified, and I said to Mother, “I ain't feeling too grand,” goes to the doctor and says, “I feel sickly feelings,” I says. “No wonder,” he says. I say, “Why?” and he said, “You’re caught,” I was thrilled to bits.’
Behind such a testament lie hours of patient work gaining the confidence of people who have good reasons to fear officials and authority and hours of patient and sensitive editing. The statistics and the formal