An Onymus (imported) wrote: Fri Dec 26, 2003 1:37 pm This thread has been thought-provoking. My question would be, since these sorts of problems would have affected eunuchs in the historical past (especially post-pubertal castrates, I would think.); is there any evidence in the literature regarding how the Skoptsy, the Ottoman and Chinese harem eunuchs, or the operatic castrati, dealt with the depression problem--at a time when, of course, there was no HRT, no prozac, or any other pharmaceutical which could ave been used to combat depression. Of course, since these people mostly lived in eunuch communities, they would have had a support system of sorts.
For what it's worth, I think Zia Jaffra mentioned in her book, that a number of hijras told her they had contemplated suicide.
First off, the Skoptsy DID have a support system in their religion.
Second, throughout most of history, most eunuchs have been slaves, or came from the poorer sections of the populace. We have records of those who overcame their depression and everything else and went on to be successful.
What percentage was that? 10%? 5%? 1%? If a slave became depressed and killed himself, their was plenty more where he came from. If I Chinese eunuch was depressed and killed himself, their were plenty of other poor Chinese willing to take their chances. Those Italian Castratti who did NOT become big name singers could kill themselves, and poor families would go on castrating their boys hoping for a singer who would make them rich.
That is the problem with history. We know of the famous, successsful eunuchs. We know almost nothing about the lives and health of the vast majority.
