Rosemary Kennedy

Description: (Sister of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy)

Rosemary Kennedy was the sister of former US president John F. Kennedy. While she was born into a high achieving and politically ambitious family, she displayed little academic and sporting potential in her childhood as she suffered from a congenial mental disability due to severe oxygen deficiency during her birth. Unfortunately, that was a hard time for the disabled and their families. The Roman Catholic Church considered disability to be a sign of sin, and the general public believed that such people had bad genes. Therefore, to avoid social stigma, her parents decided to conceal her condition, sending her to a boarding school at the age of 11. Although she showed little academic progress, she grew up to be an amicable lady and at the age of 20, she was successfully presented at the English court. To make sure that his sons’ political careers were not jeopardized by Rosemary’s activities, her father decided to have her go through lobotomy, which failed miserably and left her permanently institutionalized. However, her condition inspired her brother John to initiate a law that aimed at protecting the rights of the disabled. If the disabled have better a life in the US today, it is partly because of her.

Overview

Birthday September 13, 1918 (Virgo)
Born In United States
Alternative names Rose Marie Kennedy
City Brookline, Massachusetts
Died on January 7, 2005
Parents Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.
Rose Kennedy
Relatives Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Jean Kennedy Smith, John F. Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Kathleen Cavendish, Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy

Did you know

Why was Rosemary Kennedy's lobotomy performed? Rosemary Kennedy's lobotomy was performed in an attempt to control her mood swings and outbursts, but it resulted in disabling her significantly.
What were the long-term consequences of Rosemary Kennedy's lobotomy? The long-term consequences of Rosemary Kennedy's lobotomy included a loss of independence, communication skills, and a diminished quality of life.
Did Rosemary Kennedy have any involvement in political or public activities? Due to her disabilities resulting from the lobotomy, Rosemary Kennedy did not have any significant involvement in political or public activities.
How did Rosemary Kennedy's family deal with the aftermath of her lobotomy? After Rosemary Kennedy's lobotomy, her family kept the procedure and its consequences private, and she was cared for in various institutions for the rest of her life.
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