This makes me think of Michel Foucault's perspective on mental illness. That what we pathologize in society is related to what society values negatively in someone's personality and temperament. I agree that this has been historically true but may be changing more with the modern approach to mental illness.
The way the idea of pathology was taught to me when I took my introductory Psychology classes was framed more in relationship to the idea of healthy functioning. This meant being able to fulfill obligations like being able to work and take care of yourself but also recognizing conditions whose harm is more internally felt.
This definition presented to me doesn't entirely escape Foucault's view of your environment determining what is or isn't a pathology, but when it was taught to me it felt like a reflection of a less socially determined view of mental illness. Mental illness has gained a greater emphasis on helping to improve the personal mental state of the individual irrespective of social expectations. Maybe I am being more idealistic with this thinking.
It would interesting to hear from someone with more professional experience on this since I've only dabbled with a few college classes and books on the subject so my knowledge is quite limited.
The whole thing is quite sad because this issue is being pushed to squash student activism and bring about a new era of McCarthyism. As someone who regularly attends a Conservative Jewish synagogue (which ironically is one of the more liberal sects), I have yet to talk to any Jews who support the bill.
Antisemitism is a serious issue that has been building ever since Donald Trump refused to condemn White Supremacists (whom he intentionally politically courts similarly to Modi with the RSS). However, criticism related to Israel and the blind unconditional support of some (and I must emphasize that is a minority) Jewish people in America have for Israel is the most legitimate grievance that people have towards American Jews. I don't like seeing the reports of five-figure body counts in Gaza any more than the activists this bill is trying to silence.
There is a strong cultural and political disconnect right now between Israeli and American Jews which has been driving a strong rift. Jews in Israel tend to skew more Orthodox and hold more extreme right-wing political views than in America where there is a strong culture of Liberalism and Progressivism. Beyond that, I can say from personal experience there is a certain Israeli bravado and a condescension towards American Jews which drives me berserk (some Ultra-Orthodox Israelis have made statements denying the Jewishness of Conservative and Reform Jews for instance). Yet I have to take all the anger and micro-aggressions of the disgruntled leftists for actions in which I had no input and actively go against my wishes for how Israel would conduct itself.
This bill won't change those people's minds nor will it do anything to change the minds of right-wing antisemites (like Nick Fuentes) who would gladly see new death camps get created in America. If anything it serves to fuel the classic antisemitic tropes which have once again taken hold in mainstream culture.
The way the idea of pathology was taught to me when I took my introductory Psychology classes was framed more in relationship to the idea of healthy functioning. This meant being able to fulfill obligations like being able to work and take care of yourself but also recognizing conditions whose harm is more internally felt.
This definition presented to me doesn't entirely escape Foucault's view of your environment determining what is or isn't a pathology, but when it was taught to me it felt like a reflection of a less socially determined view of mental illness. Mental illness has gained a greater emphasis on helping to improve the personal mental state of the individual irrespective of social expectations. Maybe I am being more idealistic with this thinking.
It would interesting to hear from someone with more professional experience on this since I've only dabbled with a few college classes and books on the subject so my knowledge is quite limited.