"This is how psychiatry has functioned-as a kind of property arm of the government, who can put you away if your husband doesn't like you"

In this quote, author Kate Millett is slamming the function of psychiatry in society. She recommends that psychiatry has actually been utilized as a tool by the government to control people who might be deemed unwanted or inconvenient. By labeling someone as mentally ill, the federal government can basically "put them away" and remove them from society. Millett likewise highlights the unequal power characteristics within marriages, where a hubby's dislike for his spouse might potentially cause her being institutionalised. This quote sheds light on the potential abuse of psychiatric practices and the need for higher responsibility and ethical considerations in the field.