“The Gin Closet” by Leslie Jamison (post 3): Child Abuse, Prostitution, Alcoholism, Suicide, Anorexia Nervosa, Blackouts, Multiple Personality

Tilly, who was sexually abused as a child (1, pp. 146-147), becomes a prostitute, an alcoholic, and commits suicide. Stella has a history of anorexia nervosa and nonalcoholic blackouts.

Child abuse makes it more likely that a person will have prostitution (2), alcoholism (3), and multiple personality (4). Anorexia nervosa and suicide are surprisingly common in people with multiple personality disorder (4). Memory gaps that are not due to intoxication (or other medical condition) are a cardinal symptom of multiple personality (4).

This novel does not develop any of those connections.

1. Leslie Jamison. The Gin Closet. New York, Free Press, 2010.

2. Mimi H. Silbert, Ayala M. Pines. “Sexual child abuse as an antecedent to prostitution,” in Child Abuse & Neglect., Vol. 5, Issue 4, 1981, pp. 407-11.

3. Kathleen T. Brady MD PhD, Sudie E. Back PhD. “Childhood Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Alcohol Dependence” in https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arcr344/408-413.htm

4. Frank W. Putnam, MD. Diagnosis & Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder. New York, The Guilford Press, 1989.