Article by Lucy Patron

Embracing Evolution By: Lucy Patron Many strong values and assertions of the past have played a significant role in shaping societies, cultures, and individual lives for centuries. However, when it comes to subjects like women’s rights and mental health, these ideas can often get complex and lost in translation. Linda LaCount, a retired artist, pursued a life of personal growth and authenticity by rebelling against traditional social norms for women. The sun-kissed neighborhoods of 1970s Palo Alto were filled with excitement as the whimsical sound of Sunday church bells echoed through the air. Linda LaCount, a happily married 24 year-old dressed up her two daughters to go to church with her husband. From the outside, she appeared to be the epitome of the ideal mother. She demonstrated an image of contentment, embracing the societal norms of the housewife. Raised in a household where weekly church rituals were as routine as dinner, this was merely routine. volunteer. She explained that her upbringing didn’t Pray before dinner, before bed, and go to church on provide her with the skills to pursue a career outside Sundays. the home, emphasizing her proficiency with typewriting as her primary skill. This ambition, intertwined Unfortunately, growing up in environments like this with her journey, would later influence the dynamics seemed to contribute to the extreme stigmas assowithin her marriage and contribute to the conflicts ciated with mental health and traditional women’s that arose. She explained that values. Growing up, Linda stated she believed she was depressed. Instead of being able to utilize the In Linda’s own words, she expressed a desire to emresources that we have today, you were forced to turn brace traditional roles, aspiring to be a housewife and to god to help fix yourself. “Because in the culture I community volunteer. She remarked, “Well, that was grew up, a prayer should have been the answer or, you my goal, just to be a, you know, a housewife.” She know, your faith will bring it out.” (LaCount). The appoints this mindset to be raised thinking she didn’t 1970s were also known for “blaming psychiatry for possess the proper skills to work in the world. Having being repressive, coercive, and more damaging than grown up around many intelligent people from the helpful to patients.” (Rössler). Additionally, Linda was Bay Area, Linda felt a feeling of wanting to be with an ambitious individual, primarily indirectly through smart people. “And yet I never felt smart.” (LaCount). her husband, as suggested by LaCount’s reflection; “But I think I also was searching. I was searching for One day, as she was speaking with her neighbors something. I think I was probably lonely.” Her ambiwho were former Stanford psychology students, they tions were shaped by societal norms, as she expressed referred her to a program called Arica. The Arica a desire to fulfill traditional roles as a housewife and freestyleacademy.rocks | Freestyle Academy Spring 2024 Vol # | 3