Genie, the feral child who left a mark on researchers

[SteveJ]

She hobbled into a Los Angeles county welfare office in October 1970, a stooped, withered waif with a curious way of holding up her hands, like a rabbit. She looked about six or seven. Her mother, stricken with cataracts, was seeking an office with services for the blind and had entered the wrong room.

But the girl transfixed welfare officers.

Her name – the name given to protect her identity – was Genie. Her deranged father had strapped her into a handmade straitjacket and tied her to a chair in a silent room of a suburban house since she was a toddler. He had forbidden her to cry, speak or make noise and had beaten and growled at her, like a dog.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/14/genie-feral-child-los-angeles-researchers

 

[Kentonio]

Horrible story. Can't believe they won't let the people who had contact with her get in touch, keeping her locked away just seems like unnecessary cruelty for all involved.

 

[fishfingers15]

I was reading this on Guardian and was gobsmacked

 

[Penna]

What a terribly sad story. Seems like there was no happy ending for anyone in all of that, least of all the child.

 

[Siorac]

Jean Butler, a rehabilitation teacher, clashed with researchers and enlisted Irene, Genie’s mother, in a campaign for control. Each side accused the other of exploitation.

The old saying about the road to hell seems very appropriate here.

 

[Sassy Colin]

How sad, I wonder where she is now and what state she is in.

 

[JustAFan]

Read this the other day. Very sad, but can also understand how those charged with her care might want to keep her out of the spotlight and away from people who just want to use her as a research subject. Of course, one problem being is whether or not those in charge of her care are doing what is best for her or not. With the medical privacy laws now in place in the US, it really becomes difficult for anyone not legally authorized to get information.

 

[Alex99]

Studied a fair bit about Genie and other similar cases during uni. Very interesting but extremely sad case that was incredibly poorly handled throughout. She's a very integral part of both sides of the nurture vs nature argument regarding the acquisition of language, and I think the uniqueness of her childhood and prospect for research saw a lot of people completely overlook the horrific upbringing she'd had, and as a result, there was little to no concern for her wellbeing.