Pia Skogemann’s Waxing Femininity, a bestseller in Denmark for over four decades, is now available in English, offering a global audience access to her groundbreaking ideas. First published in 1984, the book emerged during a transformative period in Jungian theory when many female post-Jungians began critically expanding Jung’s ideas to reflect women’s experiences, especially in the wake of second-wave feminism.
While Jung made significant strides in addressing the feminine psyche, much of his work, along with that of his early followers, was rooted in patriarchal norms. Skogemann’s Waxing Femininity boldly challenges these outdated views, offering an empowering perspective on female individuation. Unlike the traditional “hero’s journey” celebrated in Jungian thought, Skogemann highlights the distinct path women take in finding their identity.
Drawing on Jungian concepts such as the anima, shadow, and archetypes, Skogemann reinterprets these ideas through a modern feminist lens. Her use of case studies, dream analysis, and literary examples brings to life the development of feminine identity, from girlhood to womanhood, as women navigate relationships and self-discovery.
Provocative at the time of its release, Waxing Femininity has since become an invaluable resource, sparking both admiration and debate. With its first English translation, this edition promises to inspire and resonate with women and scholars alike, offering fresh insights into feminine psychology and the ongoing search for authentic identity.
Pia Skogemann is a distinguished Jungian analyst with an academic background in Archaeology and Comparative Religion (M.A.). She co-founded the C.G. Jung Institute in Copenhagen in 1980, where she has been a prominent figure for over four decades, serving as a teacher, supervisor, and director of training. Renowned for her insightful contributions to Jungian psychology, Skogemann also served on the executive committee of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) from 2001 to 2007. Her extensive body of work, which includes numerous books and articles, reflects her wide-ranging expertise, though much of it has been published in Danish.